Andrew Brace Explained

Andrew Brace is a rugby union referee and former player. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Brace represents the Irish Rugby Football Union as a referee, and was an international player for Belgium. He currently referees in the URC,European Rugby Challenge Cup,European Rugby Champions Cup and Test match level.

Early life

Brace was born in Cardiff, Wales. He moved between Ireland and Wales throughout his early life. He started playing rugby union in Cardiff when he was 12. In his youth Brace also played the violin. He is a grade eight violinist. His violin teacher was the mother of Gethin Jones.[1] [2] Between 2006 and 2009 Brace attended the University of St Mark & St John where he gained a BA in sports science and coaching. Between 2010 and 2017 Brace worked as a community rugby officer for Munster Rugby. He previously worked as a community development officer for Cardiff Blues.[3] [4] Brace continued working as a community rugby officer until 2017 when, together with George Clancy, John Lacey and Joy Neville he was one of seven referees offered professional contracts by the IRFU.[5]

Playing career

Clubs

While working as a community rugby officer for Munster Rugby, Brace also played for Old Crescent.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Belgium

While playing for Old Crescent, Brace was contacted by an agent to play for the Belgium national team. Brace qualified to represent Belgium through his father's family. He subsequently helped Belgium win the 2012 Emirates Cup of Nations. He also played for Belgium in the 2012–14 European Nations Cup First Division. His international career ended after he suffered a run of injuries.[1] [5] [7] Brace also played for the Belgium sevens team.[11]

Refereeing career

Early years

While still working as a community rugby officer for Munster Rugby, Brace attended a schools tournament and was asked to referee a match because they were short of an official. He was encouraged to take up refereeing by John Lacey.[2] Brace subsequently took charge of matches in both the British and Irish Cup and All-Ireland League. On 3 April 2015 he refereed the 2014–15 British and Irish Cup final between Worcester Warriors and Doncaster Knights. On 7 May 2016 he refereed the 2015–16 All-Ireland League final between Clontarf and Cork Constitution.[5] [6] [8] [12] On 6 September 2015 Brace made his Pro14 debut when he took charge of a 2015–16 match between Cardiff Blues and Zebre.[2] [13]

European competitions

On 14 November 2015 Brace made his European Rugby Challenge Cup debut, taking charge of a 2015–16 pool stage match between Gloucester and Zebre.[2] [6] On 15 October 2016 Brace made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut, taking charge of a 2016–17 pool stage match between Wasps and Zebre.[2] [14] On 22 April 2017 Brace took charge of the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-final between La Rochelle and Gloucester.[15] [16]

International

Brace refereed matches in the 2016 Six Nations Under 20s Championship[17] [18] and at the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[5] [8] [19] including the third place game between Argentina and South Africa.

In 2017 Brace began refereeing test matches. On 28 May 2017 Brace took charge of a match between England and the Barbarians and on 10 June 2017 he took charge of a match between Canada and Georgia.[5] In November 2017 Brace took charge of his first competitive test match between England and Samoa, a 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier between Canada and the United States.[20] In addition to taking charge of test matches, Brace has also served as a referee in both the Six Nations Championship[21] and the Rugby Championship.[22] .He has refereed seven matches in the Guinness Six Nations Championship and was appointed to the 2019 Rugby World Cup as an assistant referee and referee of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[23]

Honours

Belgium
Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Getting to know: Andrew Brace. www.pro14rugby.org. 2 February 2018. 20 December 2017. 11 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180611194511/https://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/12/20/getting-know-andrew-brace/. live.
  2. Web site: Andrew Brace Q&A. www.pro14rugby.org. 2 February 2018. 2 January 2018. 9 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209060013/https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/01/02/andrew-brace-qa/. live.
  3. Web site: Andrew Brace. www.linkedin.com. 1 February 2018.
  4. Web site: My job in Munster Andy Brace Community Rugby Officer. www.independent.ie. 4 February 2018. 21 November 2014. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206132925/https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/my-job-in-munster-andy-brace-community-rugby-officer-30760826.html. live.
  5. Web site: Seven Irish referees awarded with professional contracts. rugbyreferee.net. 21 December 2017. 23 October 2017. 29 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112609/http://rugbyreferee.net/2017/10/23/seven-irish-referees-rewarded-with-professional-contracts/. live.
  6. Web site: Old Crescent's Andy Brace will referee European Challenge Cup clash between Gloucester and Zebre. www.oldcrescentrfc.com. 2 February 2018. 25 October 2015. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612202922/http://www.oldcrescentrfc.com/news/old-crescents-andy-brace-will-referee-european-challenge-cup-clash-between-gloucester-and-zebre/. live.
  7. Web site: Le groupe des Diables pour Dubaï. www.sportkipik.be. 2 February 2018. 29 November 2012. fr. 28 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170828225612/https://www.sportkipik.be/le-groupe-des-diables-pour-dubai. live.
  8. Web site: Rugby – Old Crescent's Brace to referee at U/20 World Championships. www.limerickpost.ie. 4 February 2018. 7 June 2016. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073620/https://www.limerickpost.ie/2016/06/07/rugby-old-crescents-brace-referee-jwc/. live.
  9. Web site: 2010 Meteor Munster Rugby Sevens. www.sportsfile.com. 4 February 2018. 21 August 2010. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131656/https://www.sportsfile.com/id/453147/. live.
  10. Web site: 2010 Meteor Munster Rugby Sevens Photos. www.sportsfile.com. 4 February 2018. 21 August 2010. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131645/https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/10080199/. live.
  11. Web site: IRFU Referees Continue To Progress Through The Ranks. www.irishrugby.ie. 4 February 2018. 4 June 2015. 26 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326100404/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34749.php#.WncpNahl_IU. live.
  12. Web site: Joe Carbery's class to prove crucial for Clontarf's AIL title ambitions. www.irishtimes.com. 5 February 2018. 7 May 2016. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190209/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/joe-carbery-s-class-to-prove-crucial-for-clontarf-s-ail-title-ambitions-1.2638380. live.
  13. Web site: Preview: Cardiff Blues v Zebre. 5 September 2015.
  14. Web site: European And B&I Cup Appointments For IRFU Referees. https://web.archive.org/web/20171101013547/http://irishrugby.ie/mobile/news/38278.php. dead. 1 November 2017. www.irishrugby.ie. 5 February 2018. 14 October 2016.
  15. Web site: Brace And Lacey To Referee Challenge Cup Semi-Finals. www.irishrugby.ie. 4 February 2018. 19 April 2017. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206181542/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/39529.php#.WncjCahl_IU. live.
  16. Web site: Gloucester become first team to win in La Rochelle. www.epcrugby.com. 5 February 2018. 22 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703055322/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/35644.php. 2017-07-03. dead.
  17. Web site: GUINNESS PRO12 Officials Involved in 2016 RBS 6 Nations. www.pro14rugby.org. 5 February 2018. 4 February 2016. 28 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170828232148/http://www.pro14rugby.org/2016/02/04/guinness-pro12-officials-involved-in-2016-rbs-6-nations/. live.
  18. Web site: Six Nations: England U20 16-42 Wales U20. www.bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2018. 11 March 2016. 4 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004152927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35778227. live.
  19. Web site: Brace Selected As Referee For World Rugby U-20 Championship. www.irishrugby.ie. 4 February 2018. 31 March 2016. 25 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180125022508/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/37246.php#.Wncrp6hl_IU. live.
  20. Web site: Rugby World Cup qualification secured by Eagles with Canada Day victory. www.usarugby.org. 5 February 2018. 1 July 2017. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190243/https://www.usarugby.org/match/29498-usa-eagles-v-canada/. live.
  21. Web site: RBS Men's Six Nations 2017. officiating.worldrugby.org. 5 February 2018. 7 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005020/http://officiating.worldrugby.org/?page=appointments&id=45. live.
  22. Web site: Referees Lacey And Brace Set For Rugby Championship Duty. www.irishrugby.ie. 5 February 2018. 10 July 2017. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206181539/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/40125.php#.Wnizcqhl_IU. live.
  23. Web site: Match officials selected for RWC 2019: introducing Team 21. World.rugby. 19 December 2020. 7 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507142022/https://www.world.rugby/news/419165. live.

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