Bill Mata signs new Edinburgh deal

Fiji international Viliame Mata has signed a new deal with Scottish regional club Edinburgh.

Mata joined Edinburgh in 2016 and has made 81 appearances for the club. He also won the EPCR Player of the Year and named Guinness PRO14 Players' Player of the Year during the 2018/19 season.

The 29-year-old made his international debut for Fiji in June 2017 and has played 17 Tests including three appearances in the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

He was also part of the Fiji Sevens side that went on to win the Gold medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I feel truly blessed and I thank God for another opportunity to extend our stay here in Edinburgh.

“Edinburgh Rugby is heading to a good stage right now and think we’re building together well as a team.

“Since I started with Edinburgh Rugby, I’ve felt my rugby has progressed season after season, so staying with the club means I can hopefully progress even more and aim higher than where I am now.

“All the staff have been really helpful, especially the S&C who have created a personal programme for me to suit my recovery and physical needs.

“To be honest, in my second season, I wasn’t sure I’d last long in Edinburgh, maybe because of the difference in weather and being so far from home, but we feel truly blessed that we are still here and that my family now call Edinburgh ‘home’ as well.

“After the second year, Cockers [Head Coach Richard Cockerill] came in and the S&C programme started to change. I felt like I had a bit more in me that I could show. Since then, I’ve been grabbing every opportunity. That’s why I’m still here now and staying for more."

Edinburgh are positioned fifth in Conference B table of Pro14 with four wins from 10 matches.