Wales v Italy referee Andrew Brace was actually born in Wales and has suffered sickening abuse

The curtain is set to come down on another thrilling Six Nations Championship, and Wales will look to end their campaign on a high after failing to defend their title.

Wayne Pivac's side take on perennial whipping boys Italy at the Principality Stadium on the final Saturday of the competition, with little on the line except pride.

Much of the attention has surrounded Welsh number 10 Dan Biggar, who is poised to become the seventh man to win 100 caps for Wales, as well as the return of titanic skipper Alun Wyn Jones - the latter set to win his 150th cap after sitting out with a shoulder injury for the last five months. Italy, meanwhile, will hope to halt a sorry run of 32 consecutive Six Nations defeats.

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At the heart of it all, will be referee Andrew Brace, a man who is no stranger to the spotlight. The Irishman, who was actually born and bred in Cardiff, will take charge of a Six Nations match for the first time in this year's competition, having previously been an assistant for Italy v England and Italy v Scotland.

Although born in Wales, he moved between here and Ireland during his younger years and worked across the Irish sea for years as a community officer for Munster before getting into refereeing. He is assigned to the Irish Rugby Union and can therefore referee Wales matches despite being born here. He has also played rugby for Belgium, who he qualifies for through his father's family.

The 33-year-old refereed his first Test in 2017, a 2019 World Cup qualifier between Canada and the United States, before taking the whistle for England's clash with the Barbarians later that year.

His first game involving Wales came the following year, with Brace named as the man in the middle