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Viliame Mata

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Fijian rugby union player

Rugby player
Viliame Mata
Birth nameViliame Sevaka Mata
Date of birth (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthNauluvatau, Nakelo, Tailevu, Fiji
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight123 kg (271 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Lock, Number 8
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2024 Edinburgh Rugby 136 (105)
2024– Bristol Bears 0 (0)
Correct as of 27 June 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Fiji 29 (30)
Correct as of 27 June 2024
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2013–2016 Fiji 7's 10 (60)
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  Fiji
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team competition

Viliame Sevaka Mata (born 22 October 1991) is a Fijian rugby union player who currently plays for Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership.

Career

Mata was born and raised in Nauluvatau, a small village in Nakelo, Tailevu and was selected by Ben Ryan to represent the Fiji sevens team to the 2014 Wellington Sevens as a replacement for Pio Tuwai.

Mata is a former professional rugby footballer who went on to play for champion local 7's side, Davetalevu. He studied at Suva Grammar School before moving to Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Mata made the final Fiji squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics where he won a gold medal for Fiji in rugby 7s. Has also represented the Flying Fijians at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup.

In July 2016, Mata signed for Pro12 side, Edinburgh for two-years and he joined the side after helping Fiji win Gold at the Olympics but his visa-expired a year later as he was not capped internationally for Fiji and visas for player not capped by Kolpak countries were only for a year, he had to return to Fiji and get capped by the Fiji 15's team. He made his test debut against Australia on June 10 playing off the bench. He played 3 more tests for Fiji off the bench which allowed him to lodge a visa application to extend his visa to Scotland. He returned to Scotland in September 2017 and became a regular starter for the team.

In December 2017, he signed an extension to stay at Edinburgh Rugby until 2020. At the end of the 2018/19 Pro14 season, Mata was named the Guinness PRO14 the Players’ Player of the Season.

On 2 January 2024, Mata would move to England to sign for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby competition from the 2024-25 season.

References

  1. World Rugby Sevens Series (4 December 2015). "FIJI 7S Squads". Retrieved 18 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Big Bill Ready For Olympics". fijisun.com.fj. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  3. "Mata jets out to Wellington at this hour". Fiji One. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  4. "Mata's 7s series debut – Fiji Times Online". fijitimes.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  5. Maciu Malo. "Dream comes true". Fiji Times. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  6. Limited, Communications Fiji (17 July 2016). "Fiji 7s team to Rio Olympics announced". fijivillage.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. "Viliame Mata: Edinburgh Rugby sign Fiji Olympic gold medallist". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  8. "Edinburgh forwards Luke Crosbie & Viliame Mata commit to club". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  9. "Viliame Mata: Bristol Bears sign Edinburgh's Fiji back-row for 2024-25". BBC Sport. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.

External links

Edinburgh – current squad
Forwards
Backs
Coach
Fiji squad – 2016 Summer Olympics – Gold medal
Forwards
Backs
Coach
Fiji squad – 2019 Rugby World Cup
Forwards
Backs
Head coach: McKee
Fiji squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup
Forwards
Backs
Head coach: Simon Raiwalui
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