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Louis Rees-Zammit goes off in the first half and did not reappear in the second period(Image: PA Wire)<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyondLouis Rees-Zammit goes off in the first half and did not reappear in the second period(Image: PA Wire)<\/p>\n
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, January 3.<\/p>\n
Rees-Zammit stood down during match<\/p>\n
Louis Rees-Zammit failed to appear in the second-half of Bristol Bears’ narrow win over Sale Sharks on Friday night after feeling too unwell following a head injury.<\/p>\n
The Wales winger left the field late in the first-half to undergo a HIA, which he reportedly passed. However, he felt too unwell from the severity of the blow to come back out in the second period and was stood down to be replaced by Matias Moroni when the players came back out.<\/p>\n
He will now be monitored ahead of European matches over the next couple of weeks, following which the Wales Six Nations squad will be announced.<\/p>\n
The 19-17 win meant Bristol went top of the Gallagher Prem. They were never ahead until the 73rd minute with a yellow card in the 70th minute for Sale centre Rekeiti Ma\u2019asi White proving decisive.<\/p>\n
Kalaveti Ravouvou, Joe Owen and Moroni were on Bristol\u2019s try-scoring sheet with Tom Jordan and James Williams each kicking a conversion.<\/p>\n
Tom O\u2019Flaherty and Ernest van Rhyn crossed for Sale with George Ford converting both and adding a penalty.<\/p>\n
Coach Pat Lam said: \u201cWe set out that was effectively to be a final and that we needed to win it to be top of the table as Sale are our bogey team and always seem to be up for this fixture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew Sale would be very physical and we had to stay in the fight especially when we lost Aidan Boshoff in the warm-up and then Lovejoy (Chawatama) and Zam (Louis Rees-Zammit) in the first half.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to be decimated by injuries and have had to endure that all season so we had to fight for every moment today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we were hard done by in the first half as a few decisions went against us but we could see they were beginning to tire and were able to carve them up for the winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this win, we\u2019ve put ourselves in a good place in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gloucester in trouble ahead of Morgan and Lake arrivals<\/p>\n
Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake’s new club Gloucester hit a new low as they lost 25-19 to basement boys Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night. It was Newcastle’s first league win since 2024 and means they now have the same record as the Cherry and Whites this season of just one win in nine games.<\/p>\n
Head coach George Skivington finds himself under huge pressure heading into the second half of the season, with Newcastle showing clear signs of improvement and Gloucester floundering amid injury problems. They will be desperate for their new recruits to arrive next season, with big changes expected behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
A new director of rugby is reported to be on his way above Skivington, while other changes to the coaching structure are also expected to be announced.<\/p>\n
Skivington said: \u201cSame story as the last couple of weeks in terms of attack, we made a lot of line-breaks, didn\u2019t finish enough of them off.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially in the first half we had a couple of good opportunities down that far channel and dropped the ball. Little connections at the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t really go at the lads for the way they\u2019re attacking. Combinations they\u2019re playing at have changed every week this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a handful of 18-year-olds out there, a couple of nines who\u2019ve never played in the Prem, a hooker who turned up on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is what it is. They are playing with endeavour, working hard, it\u2019s just those connections aren\u2019t what they were last year at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
England handed Six Nations boost<\/p>\n