IRFU referee Andrew Brace will referee tonight’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool A match between New Zealand and Georgia at 7.45pm at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.
Andrew Brace was selected as one of nine match referees for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship and is Ireland’s only referee at the tournament.
The former Old Crescent player, who started refereeing three years ago, refereed the Under-20 Six Nations games between England and Wales, and Scotland and England earlier this year. He was also the man in the middle for a number of GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures, and refereed last month’s action-packed Ulster Bank League Division 1A final between Clontarf and Cork Constitution.
The U-20 Championship is viewed as an ideal environment to develop as both players and referees and it has been a stepping stone for a number of top international referees over the years.
Speaking of Andrew’s progression, IRFU Referee Performance Manager Dave McHugh said: “Andrew has moved quickly through the refereeing ranks, firstly in Munster, and then within the IRFU pathway system. He has grown over this season into an established PRO12 and EPCR referee and I wish him well for the tournament, in the full knowledge that he has prepared well.”
There is added Irish interest in the game as New Zealand and Georgia will be the Ireland Under-20s’ opponents in rounds 2 and 3 of the pool stages. Nigel Carolan’s side face Wales this evening at 5.30pm at the Manchester City Academy Stadium and will then meet New Zealand on Saturday and Georgia next Wednesday.
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