Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Monday, September 12.
Bath hooker apologises for red card after brawl
New Bath hooker Niall Annett has taken to social media to apologise after he was red carded during his side’s game with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate in the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership season.
Bristol Bears began their season with a 31-29 victory over their West Country rivals, but new signing Annett saw red without having played a minute for the club for his part in a sideline brawl in the 37th minute. Bristol and Wales fly-half Callum Sheedy was also yellow carded for his involvement in the brawl.
The incident occurred after Bristol had scored their third try. Bath’s replacements, who were warming up nearby, got involved in a melee with some Bristol players and hooker Annett, an unused substitute, was red-carded by referee Matthew Carley, while Sheedy was sin-binned.
Annett wrote on Twitter: “Just want to apologise to everyone associated with Bath Rugby. Not how I saw my first game going and deeply embarrassed and disappointed in myself. Players, staff, fans and everyone else associated, sorry for my actions.”
Gloucester boss hails 'special' Rees-Zammit
Gloucester head coach George Skivington has heaped praise on 'special' Louis Rees-Zammit after the Welshman's heroics inspired his side to an impressive 27-21 win over Wasps on Sunday.
The 21-year-old scored an astonishing solo try just after the interval, an effort that got his side off the mark at Kingsholm, running nearly the entire length of the field before touching down in the corner.
Gloucester were 21-0 down before the winger crashed over, and his moment of magic clearly proved pivotal in helping to swing the contest in favour of the hosts.
Speaking to the BBC, Skivington said: "We were off in that first half without a doubt, but we were only marginally off - Wasps were very good.
"The score was not flattering at half-time without a doubt, but actually when you break down the play we were just a little bit off what we've tried to execute.
"Second half we got a little bit sharper and more at peace with how we're trying to play."
Speaking specifically on Rees-Zammit, he added: "He's special from that point of view - he can produce something that can turn a game and sometimes you need that."
Fiji and Australia strike gold at World Cup Sevens
Fiji have won the men's World Cup Sevens in South Africa, after beating New Zealand 29-12 in South Africa.
The Flying Fijians were out of sight by half-time after building a 24-5 lead, only for Akuila Rokolisoa to respond with a converted try after the break for the Kiwis.
Pilipo Bukayaro sealed victory late on, handing Fiji their first title in 17 years, and their third of all time.
"It was a huge performance, the boys have been fantastic the whole weekend," Fiji's English coach Ben Gollings said.
"Everyone knows us for an attacking game, but the key for us is also to stop the tries against us. Yesterday and today were huge defensive performances, the players have run themselves into the ground.
"We knew we let ourselves down in the Commonwealth Games final and we targeted this one."
There was further disappointment for New Zealand in the women's competition as Australia continued their strong run of form in 2022, adding a world title to the gold picked up at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
The Australians edged out their old rivals 24-22 courtesy of a Maddison Levi hat-trick, ending double defending champions New Zealand’s 13-match winning run in the RWC Sevens, while also sealing a first Aussie women’s World Cup since 2009 in Dubai.
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