Melani Nanai apologises after sending off

Warriors’ full-back Melani Nanai has apologised publicly following his sending off in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Gloucester at Sixways.

Nanai was shown a red card by referee Christophe Ridley after a shoulder made contact with the head of Gloucester wing Jonny May in an 18th minute tackle.

May was unable to continue having failed a head injury assessment but Nanai’s absence proved more significant as Warriors had to play more than an hour of the match with 14 men. Warriors were leading 5-0 when Nanai departed but Gloucester went on to win 44-15 with 29 of the points coming in the second half.

On Sunday morning Nanai took to Twitter to apologise to May, his team-mates, Warriors staff and supporters.

“Just wanted to say sorry to @J0nnyMay, my team mates, the staff @WorcsWarriors and all our fans for yesterday. It wasn’t my intention to tackle that way & sending my best to Jonny and the Gloucester team for the rest of the season,” Nanai tweeted.

Nanai will now face a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in an online hearing to determine the sanction he will face.

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