Viliame “Bill” Mata, one of Edinburgh’s most vital players since signing in 2016, will join the Bristol Bears at the end of the season, the team has confirmed. Senior coach Sean Everitt praised the 32-year-old Fijian, who has been with the capital club since 2016, calling him one of the team’s greatest imports ever.
He declared, “Since coming to Edinburgh in 2016, Bill has been an amazing and exceptional performer, and he will go down as one of the best foreign players to wear the castle on his chest.” “We at the club are really happy for Bill and his family as they relocate to Bristol. As we compete in the European Challenge Cup and the BKT United Rugby Championship, he will still be crucial to the campaign’s second half.
Mata was praised as a world-class acquisition by Bristol coach Pat Lam, who already had former Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury in his lineup.”Next season, we’re thrilled to have a player of Villeme’s elite caliber join our forward pack, as he is one of the most formidable and captivating back-row players in the game,” the player stated.
“His performances for Edinburgh and Fiji at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in France demonstrated his elite level experience and skill. We’re excited to have him join the Bears and the Premiership for the next campaign.
Mata, who competed for Fiji in the 2016 Olympics and won gold, stated on the Bears website, “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Bristol Bears next season.” The prospect of playing in a new league, with a new squad, and in a new atmosphere excites me.
The English Premiership team first made public its interest in the 32-year-old Fijian last month. While Sean Everitt, the senior coach at Edinburgh, stated at the time that he would be happy to keep Mata, he also acknowledged the challenges of maintaining all of his best players on a limited budget. Since then, lock forward Grant Gilchrist and fellow winger Duhan van der Merwe have signed one-year contract extensions with Edinburgh, and Graham has agreed to a new long-term deal. Everitt is presently engaged in negotiations to prolong his contract, which expires in the summer.