Edinburgh's Mata to undergo ankle surgery

Edinburgh will face the new season with talented number 8 Bill Mata.

Mata has been ruled out with an ankle injury requiring surgery which will take place on Thursday. Mata sustained the damage in Edinburgh’s loss to Bordeaux in the Challenge Cup quarter final recently.

"Bill is pivotal to us so it's disappointing," said head coach Richard Cockerill.

"He will probably be six to eight weeks, meaning he will miss the first two rounds of the Pro14 with us then the international period with Fiji.

"We've got good cover with Nick Haining and Magnus Bradbury, but certainly for Edinburgh and Fiji that will be a blow."