Referee Andrew Brace names his favourite and toughest rugby players to officiate

We spoke to Andrew or Bracey as he’s known to many in the sport, to find out what makes him tick for The Whistle section of our website in association with ACME Whistles.

Name: Andrew Brace

Height: 5”11

Hometown: I live in Limerick, I've been here for the last 10 years, but my family are based in Wales in Cardiff. I was only meant to be here for a year, but one year led to another and 10 years later they can't get rid of me!

First memory of Rugby: I played a bit of rugby at primary school, but was quite late when I started playing at a club, probably about 13 years old. My first, and funniest, memory when I was in primary school was one of my first games, and we needed to score to win the game. The ball came to me on the wing, it was probably my only touch of the game, before sprinting down the wing for the winning score. I dived over the line, hand in the air celebrating only to realise it was the 22, not the try line. Hilarious now looking back, but at the time I don’t think my mates were laughing!

t international as a ref: England v Barbarians match was my first test but it wasn't a capped International as they’re not capped games, so my first full International was out in Calgary in 2017 with Georgia against Canada. I will never forget it. We arrived the day before to about 28 degrees, a lovely day in Calgary, but the next day the temperature went through the floor with wind chill in the minuses! It was that cold that one of the players had to go to hospital with hypothermia and we had to have a hot shower at half time just to warm up. My first Tier one International was the following year - Argentina v Wales.

Brace said: "Who is the best player you've refereed? There are so many great players out there, but I would have to say a Rory Best or Sam Warburton would be up there. Two great players who would leave it all out there but really forced you to make decisions as a referee, particularly when jackling for a turnover - they were both relentless as they competed at every opportunity so every breakdown a decision would have to be made."

Brace said: " I think one of the toughest players I’ve refereed would be Marcel Coetzee. He’s such a physical player who never takes a backward step."

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:

Favourite stadium to ref in? For me personally I’d lean towards the likes of Clermont, Marcel Michelin stadium or the Stade Mayol in Toulon, even la Rochelle when I did la Rochelle v Gloucester in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup a few years ago. The atmosphere in those places is electric which always lifts the intensity of those matches in Europe and so they are very special games to be involved in.

Who is your sporting hero? Joost van der Westhuizen was always the player I admired growing up, as a scrum half myself I related a lot to the way he played but Paul O’Connell would be up there for me. Just seeing what he achieved and gave to the game. A guy who was just so ferocious on the field and his will to win would rise to any occasion, yet the moment the final whistle went, he’d almost be a different person who would be the first to give up time to help you out. 

What is your ACME whistle of choice? I’ve always used an ACME Thunder – A 58.5 I think it is. Although I’ve changed my main whistle a few times, my spare is always one I take with me in games as it was one my sister got engraved for me in my first professional game - ‘Embrace life’s dreams’. 

Who inspired you to pick up the whistle? I’d have to say Johnny Lacey. I wouldn't be in the position I am now if it wasn't for his support. He's a close friend of mine and he’s the type of person that will always put others before himself and give 110% to help you succeed. Having somebody in your corner like that is invaluable for your development.

Which area of the game is the hardest to referee? Certainly the breakdown would be up there, there’s so much going on now and with an average of 190 rucks a game you can find a penalty at almost every breakdown. I believe the changes made since 2015 RWC have certainly helped with a stronger focus on the tackler to allow quicker ball – and that's what everybody wants to see at the end of the day. Without moving into a different area of the game, I would also say lineout maul is becoming much harder to referee, because again there's just so much to look at in a split moment.

What's the strangest thing you've seen on a rugby pitch? It was my first European Cup game live on Sky Sports and into the first 20 minutes I get bumped over by James Haskell and my whistle goes straight into the mud. It was only 2 minutes later when I needed to blow the whistle for a penalty that I realised the whistle was completely filled with mud as nothing was happening and the players continuing playing – a referees’ worst nightmare! Luckily enough the players eventually stopped – but we then had to search the Ricoh Arena to find a spare one. Needless to say, I now always carry my spare with me. 

Who is the best player you've refereed? There are so many great players out there, but I would have to say a Rory Best or Sam Warburton would be up there. Two great players who would leave it all out there but really forced you to make decisions as a referee, particularly when jackling for a turnover - they were both relentless as they competed at every opportunity so every breakdown a decision would have to be made.

Who is the toughest player you've refereed? I think one of the toughest players I’ve refereed would be Marcel Coetzee. He’s such a physical player who never takes a backward step. 

What three things would you take to a desert island? I’d have to go practical. I love my food so a knife; probably an inflatable raft so you have to get off the island at the same stage but also you need a shelter; and my Acme whistle of course for attention 😉

Do you have any hidden talents? The one that always comes up is that I played the violin a lot when I was younger, I got to grade 8 before I focused on sport so I’d say I was ok at that. My claim to fame was playing with Gethin Jones as his mother was my violin teacher in school!

Who would be your three dream dinner party guests, and why? I think David Attenborough would be awesome; maybe a bit of Ed Sheeran for the music and can’t forget Margot Robbie to top it off…. Mrs won’t be pleased with that one lol!

What would you like to achieve outside of rugby? I think I’d like a fresh challenge after being involved in player/coach development for 10 years but you never say never. I've always wanted to start my own business or maybe work in Sports Nutrition. I might even pick up the violin up again ! 

Which two teams would you love to referee? There are so many special games I’d love to be involved in, but I think topping the list at present would be Australia v South Africa – as they're two International teams I haven't reffed yet.

How do you prepare for a game? Do you have a pre-game ritual? I didn't until a few years ago when my grandmother passed and I was handed down her old school whistle by my late Father. I was really close to my Nan who was from Belgium, and during the war she was a teacher and refereed the odd basketball games. My Nan never threw anything away and Dad found this whistle when sorting out some of her things in the house and knew just the right home for it. So now I always have that hanging over my jersey before I go on the pitch.

Are any of your family also referees? Does it run in the family? No – I’m the first.