Bears' Mata out until November with hamstring injury

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Viliame Mata joined Bristol from Edinburgh this summer

New Bristol Bears back row Viliame Mata will miss the first two months of the season because of a hamstring injury.

The Fijian international - known as Bill - joined the club this summer from Edinburgh, where he has made more than a century of appearances and earned 13 caps.

The 32-year-old sustained the injury during a pre-season game for the Bears against Ealing and has since had what the club called a "successful surgery".

He is expected to be out until November, with Bristol beginning their Premiership campaign at Newcastle on 20 September.