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Fijian Mata ends speculation over his future
European Player of the Year nominee and Olympic gold medallist, Viliame Mata, has ended speculation over his future.
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Mata’s form for Edinburgh had led to speculation that he could make a big money move to the Gallagher Premiership or the Top 14.
Last month Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill spoke about the speculation over Mata and jokingly said “I will sell which ever one of my children’s kidney…”, adding “We’ll do everything we can to keep our best players, that includes Vili or anybody else. How realistic that is we’ll see but I’m up for the battle don’t worry.”
Now Edinburgh have confirmed that he’s committed his future to the club after putting pen to paper on a new one-year contract extension.
Affectionately known as Big Bill in his adopted home, the Fijian international was already contracted until the end of next season but has chosen to commit further to what Cockerill is building in the Scottish capital in a deal that will see him remain at the club until at least 2021.
Today’s announcement is a real statement of intent from the club and one that sees the capital side retain one of world rugby’s most exciting prospects.
On today’s news, Head Coach Cockerill, said: “Vili is one of the most exciting talents in the world right now, so I’m delighted that he feels that his future is here in Edinburgh.
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“We love him, and he thrives in the culture we’ve created around him. He’s still a young man, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he produces in an Edinburgh jersey in the years ahead.”
Mata added: “I’ve had a great time in Edinburgh over the last two seasons. We’ve settled in well and my family loves it here. We’re excited and blessed to be staying in this city for another two seasons.
“The club is definitely growing and I’m so excited to see how we can keep improving. I’m still getting used to the weather here as it’s so different to back home, but I’ve got another two seasons to keep adapting!
“I feel like I fit in really well here and the boys always make me feel right at home. I’m delighted to be extending my stay in Edinburgh, which has truly become a second home for my family and I.”
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A key man in Fiji’s successful sevens side, the 6ft 5in, 18 stone playmaker represented his country at nine events on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit, scoring 11 tries.
Mata won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, scoring a try in Fiji’s 43-7 victory over Great Britain in the final of the 12-team tournament.
After signing for Edinburgh in the summer of 2016, the Fijian made a try-scoring debut for the club, grabbing a brace of tries in the 59-17 European Challenge Cup win over Timisoara Saracens in October of the same year.
Following a run of impressive performances during the 2017/18 Guinness PRO14 campaign – including a sensational score against Southern Kings in December 2017 which saw the Fijian pick up Try of the Month – Mata penned a two-year contract extension to keep him in the capital until 2020. A deal that has today been extended until 2021.
Since his arrival in Scotland, Mata has scored 11 tries in 55 games for the club, reaching the half-century of appearances in last month’s victory over Southern Kings at BT Murrayfield.
His abilities in open play sent social media into overdrive on his 51st outing in the dark blue jersey, when a sublime offload was collected by James Johnstone to score in a famous win over Toulon in the Heineken Champions Cup at the Stade Mayol.
Mata – who has so far made 8 appearances for his country – enjoyed a try-scoring return to BT Murrayfield when he crossed the whitewash in Fiji’s 54-17 Autumn Test defeat to Scotland in November 2018.
In other news: Tensions rise between Cheika and Super Rugby clubs
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments