• Source: Viliame Mata

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






External links


Viliame Mata at ESPNscrum
Viliame Mata at ItsRugby.co.uk
Viliame Mata at Olympedia
Viliame Mata at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
Mata Zimbio biodata, zimbio.com; accessed 11 September 2017.

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Viliame Mata
• 2023 Rugby World Cup knockout stage
• List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers
• List of 2024–25 Premiership Rugby transfers
• 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C
• 2024 mid-year rugby union tests
• Summer Nations Series
• World XV
• 2023 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
• 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals