Sophie Spence (born 26 February 1987) is a former Ireland women's rugby union international.
Spence is a British Nigerian who qualified to represent Ireland through her mother, who was originally from Lisburn, County Antrim.
Myrtle Spence moved to South Shields, Tyne & Wear in the early 1980s, when she was in her mid-twenties, and subsequently met and had a relationship with Sophie's father.
Sophie Spence was born and raised in South Shields, where she attended Ashley Road Primary School and Brinkburn Comprehensive.
[19][20][21] After Spence attended an Irish Exiles trials in August 2011, Philip Doyle decided to fast track her into the Ireland team.
[5][1][13][29][30][31] Spence retired as an Ireland international after failing to make the squad for the 2018 Women's Six Nations Championship.
[1][3] After moving to Dublin, Spence worked for Leinster Rugby in various coaching and community development roles.