Viliame Mata will depart Edinburgh club a legend – former coach Cockerill

Fiji Water Flying Fijians number 8 Viliame Mata will leave Edinburgh a legend.

This was the sentiments echoed by former coach Richard Cockerill.

Cockerill joked more than once and says he would choose Mata over his wife and children, or selling a few organs to fund a contract extension.

This was the impact this Edinburgh legend had on the management and the fans.

Mata says when he was offered a contract, he only knew Edinburgh was near London and that was the only thing he knew about his home for the next few years.

Cockerill says Eight years, two World Cups, and three children later, he is one of Scotland’s finest ever overseas recruits and, it is understood, the highest-paid player in the country.

Mata was signed in 2016, fresh from his role in the inaugural Olympic sevens title in Rio.

Mata is looking forward to joining the Bristol Bears in the next rugby season.