Published Wednesday, 13 March 2013
A new team has been set up in memory of Nevin Spence, his father and brother. (© Getty)
Nevin died alongside his father Noel and older brother Graham on the family farm in Hillsborough in September last year.
At the launch of the 2013 Carrick Sevens on Wednesday, Nevin's former teammate, Paddy McAllister revealed a new team has been set up to raise money for two charities.
"Ballynahinch Rugby Club approached me about a month ago saying a few guys are very interested in creating a side in a memory towards Noel, Graham and Nevin," he explained.
"From being on the sidelines all year I kind of jumped at the opportunity and the fact of trying to be involved in some way in their memory."
A special rugby top will go on general sale and the team will be made up of those who previously played alongside Nevin and were good friends with him.
When it came to picking the charities, Paddy said there two obvious choices - the Oscar Knox Appeal, and the NI Cancer Fund for Children.
"Nevin had seen wee Oscar the week of the accident and it touched him. I had spoken to him about it and straight after it and he told me how much of a legend the wee man was and he wanted to be involved in it as much as he could," Paddy told UTV Sport.
"With the NI Cancer Fund for Children, they were interested in having Nevin as a representative."
The sudden deaths of three members of the same family as they tried to save each other made headlines across the UK, Ireland and beyond. A memorial for the family was held at Ulster ground Ravenhill and a minute's silence was observed before games in the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect PRO12.
"This has touched everybody's heart. Some people more than others but in some way it's touched everyone," Paddy added.
"If it works out this year it might be an annual thing, of trying to get a team involved in the Carrick Sevens in memory of the guys."