Payton Spencer

Payton Spencer (born 23 April 2004) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a full back. He plays for and the New Zealand national sevens team.

Early and personal life
He is the son of Jodene and New Zealand rugby international Carlos Spencer. He lived in England between 2005 and 2010 when his dad was playing for Northampton Saints and Gloucester Rugby.

He later attended Hamilton Boys' High School. Playing for their First XV, he helped them to the National First XV Championship and then the World Schools Championship in Thailand in December 2022, beating South African school Grey's College in the final.

Career
Also a keen cricketer in his youth, he played as an all-rounder in his high school’s first XI cricket team and represented the Black Caps as a substitute fielder in 2020. He also excelled at rugby union as a teenager, playing as a full back. In November 2022, he signed a professional contract with Super Rugby side Blues.

In January 2023, he agreed a two-year contract with the New Zealand national rugby sevens team side. He made his debut on 27 January 2023 and scored two tries against Uruguay. He played in the Sevens World Series as New Zealand won the Sydney Sevens, beating South Africa 38-0 in the final.