Viliame Mata: 'To tick that off would be massive for me'

RugbyPass interviews with star Fijian rugby players are a bit like the buses. Two arrived this month in the space of a few days, ending a gap stretching back to last year’s Rugby World Cup when they captured the global imagination with their quarter-final run.

Levani Botia outlined over a 30-minute call last week from France how he craves a return to play with La Rochelle, the French club where he has been rehabbing his fractured arm since early May. He will be back in November, as will Viliame Mata, his fellow back-rower.

It was September 6 when Bristol confirmed that ‘Big Bill’, their big summer signing from Edinburgh, had damaged a hamstring so badly in a behind-closed-doors pre-season hit-out versus Ealing Trailfinders that an operation was needed.

Gallagher Premiership round seven away to Harlequins on November 29 is the Bears’ debut date ringed in his calendar but who knows, we might see him sooner if he is ready and Fiji want him involved on a four-match tour where three of the matches fall under the World Rugby regulation nine player release.

It was last Tuesday at Principality Stadium, the ground that will host Fiji versus Wales on November 10, when Mata dropped into a fifth-floor hospitality box for an exclusive 20-minute chat with RugbyPass before heading down onto the hallowed turf for a photo call to launch the 30th season of European rugby which will culminate with Cardiff finals.

Mata will hope it is a double whammy on that front as Bristol will play their Premiership match versus Bath at the Principality on May 10, a fortnight before the Investec Champions Cup decider at the same ground. Before all that, though, he needs to get himself fit and get in his keenly awaited maiden run for the Bears.

“It’s a lot of new stuff to learn and I was getting really good learning, but the Ealing game was a small setback,” he explained about settling into English life under Pat Lam following eight years in Scotland. “My family are enjoying it. Settled in well. Two kids are in school, one still at home; loving it. Training, the boys are getting on. It’s good getting to know everybody. It’s quite quiet from Edinburgh. Trying to find my feet in Bristol.”

A 2016/17 recruit by the Scottish club following his gold medal sevens success with Fiji at the Rio Olympics, the 32-year-old was tickled by Bristol’s interest in him to quit the United Rugby Championship for the Premiership.

The deal was announced last January and he is enjoying the vibe surrounding the current league leaders, who host second-place Saracens this Saturday at Ashton Gate. “I followed the Premiership when I moved to the UK and said I wanted to play Premiership before I leave the UK,” he said, explaining his transfer.

“I always wanted to play knowing there are a couple of big England players playing for Premiership clubs, so just to tick that off would be massive for me. Bristol play fast rugby, more attacking rugby that would suit my personality. Just watching them play I get excited. I am pretty happy to have come, excited to have joined the team.

“They are a great team to watch. I have watched them play at home and followed them on the TV (away), it’s really exciting to watch. Watching the back rows play, they are everywhere. The game plan for Bristol suits them really well for the players running around with speed, pace and power.

“The first time in Ashton Gate was when they played Gloucester. It’s quite the atmosphere. A lot of fans turn up to watch. Playing up in Edinburgh, we have got a 7,800-capacity stadium which is quite enclosed and we can hear people but Bristol have a bigger stadium with a lot of fans. I can’t wait to run out there and play for them.

“I thought last season they were going to make the play-offs but they just missed out in the last game. But looking at the squad now, I think we are going to make it and do better than last season. Hopefully go all the way through.”

“It was totally different. When you are at home it’s shorts and t-shirts you wear around. I tried doing that in the first week of training at Edinburgh with just a rugby shirt and a training jersey but then the second week I took my whole kit to training with me just to keep me warm for training. It was quite different but nice.

“I’m just grateful for the first contract Edinburgh offered because, without that, God knows where I would be, maybe still on the island trying to get a breakthrough. To spend eight seasons at Edinburgh was a blessing for me and my family. Two of my boys were born there, so Edinburgh will always have a part in our hearts. The highlight? It would be beating Toulon away in the Champions Cup.”

We finish with Test-game reflections about Fiji, the team he last played with in July when beaten 5-47 by New Zealand in San Diego. They have since won the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup, defeating Japan in the final in Osaka, and Mata’s hope is the results will keep coming on a November tour with assignments away to Scotland, Wales, Spain and Ireland.

“The quarter-final last year was a massive achievement for Fiji. It gave us an opportunity to play against tier-one nations and build up more confidence. We had the All Blacks in the summer and have got Wales, Scotland and Ireland in autumn, so plenty of game time.

“If we improve our results, tier-one teams will want to play against us so we are hoping to get as much experience to build up to the next World Cup. November will be really helpful to gauge where we are. Are we tier-one or do we still have to work a bit harder? Playing against tier-one, especially against the All Blacks, is a great learning, a great experience, something that we need as a team to get better.”