EDINBURGH have struck Fijian gold with their latest signing, picking up Olympic gold medal winner Viliame "Bill" Mata on a two year deal.
The 6ft6in, 18st4lb powerhouse will probably slot in at lock, though he can also play in the back row.
Less than four weeks ago he was partnering former Glasgow Warriors favourite Leone Nakarawa in the Rio sevens final, scoring a try as his team demolishe Team GB side in the climax. Now he is officially on his way to Scotland to join up with Edinburgh club in the Guinness PRO12.
After their poor start to the season in Cardiff last weekend, news of his signing is bound to lift morale at the club, among both players and supporters, with the promise that he will bring a bit of Fijian flair to add to their attacking firepower and physical pack.
Word of the move had leaked from Fiji in the days just before the Olympics, and last week Alan Solomons,the Edinburgh head coach, hinted the deal was near. Now that the lengthy gold medal celebrations on the Pacific Islands nation have ended, he has been able to make the move official.
“My goal was to win the gold medal for Fiji and we got it. Now my goal is to perform well for my new team," said Mata. “I am excited about signing for Edinburgh Rugby, and am looking forward to playing for the club. I am also excited about arriving in the city and meeting my new team mates.”
Mata, 24, was a controversial choice for the Fiji side, having converted from rugby league to join the sevens team only a couple of years ago and having a tricky build-up to the tournament with injuries holding him back. He had, however, managed nine tournaments on the World Series circuit and demonstrated his attacking power with 11 tries.
By the time he had proved his fitness to Ben Ryan, the Fiji sevens coach, he was always a likely choice and his partnership with Nakarawa gave the side the power to fight off bigger teams in the tournament without any noticeable penalty in terms of pace.
“He is a hugely talented player who was part of the Fiji 7s team that recently won gold at the Rio Olympics," said Solomons. “He is big, powerful and explosive and I believe he will add huge value to the team.”
No date for Mata's arrival has yet been annoucned, but Edinburgh are hoping it will be sometime this month, allowing him time to settle in to the team before the European Challenge Cup campaign starts in October.
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