Ulster fans pay their respects to Ireland A centre Nevin Spence who was killed in a family farm tragedy On days when nobody else wanted to come in and train, he was there leading from the front. All he wanted to do for the remainder of his career was to stay here, win trophies and be successful for Ulster. Those seeking to pay their tributes for Spence ranged from New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, world number 1 golfer Rory McIlroy to Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll, whom many believed Spence would replace in the national side in several years. "What a wonderful talent he was," said O'Driscoll. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. McIlroy, a keen Ulster supporter tweeted: "Just heard the tragic news of Nevin Spence and his family. Makes you cherish every day you have on this earth. New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter tweeted: "Such sad news & my thoughts go out to his family" while Spence's former Ulster team-mate Ian Humphreys, who is now at London Irish, wrote: "Devastated to hear the news about Nevin Spence and his brother and dad. Prayers with all his family... RIP Nev, you'll never be forgotten. Shane Logan, chief executive of Ulster Rugby, said Nevin had been "an exceptional young man." "A man who was killed in his prime aged 22 with an immense future in front of him and we know that because in his 22 years he was a model professional and a model individual, " said Logan. A man of absolute integrity, complete determination, great humility, a fine team player and an all-round exceptional individual. Flowers, scarves and other tributes were already left at Ravenhill on Sunday in memory of Spence, who the day before his death had played the Ulster Ravens, the province's second team, against Ulster A at Deramore Park, having missed much of last season through injury. During the previous season, 2010/11, he had marked himself out as a potential international with a string of excellent performances for Ireland Under-20s, and for Ulster, for whom he won 42 caps, scoring five tries. While regarded as one of rugby's gentlemen off the field, his ferocious tackling and ball-carrying made him a fearsome opponent on it. As David Humphreys said yesterday, Ulster will be a "poorer place" without him. Billy Glynn, president of the Irish Rugby Football Union, added: "This is a terrible tragedy that has struck the Spence family and the thoughts of everybody in Irish rugby are with them at this time. Nevin was an outstanding young player which was evident from his progression through the representative ranks and the game has been robbed of a very talented young man.