Highly rated speedster Malelili Satala joined the club on an initial two-year deal from Gallagher Premiership side Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The move to Edinburgh marked a homecoming for Malelili, who is the son of former Fijian international and Edinburgh Rugby player Apolosi ‘Apo’ Satala.

Apo represented the capital club in the early 2000s, making his Edinburgh debut against Glasgow Warriors in 2003 to become player #1048.

Satala qualifies for Scotland, having been born in Edinburgh while his father played for the club and served with the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The family returned to Fiji when Malelili was six months old. He moved back to the UK at 16 to join Leicester Tigers, where he progressed through the academy ranks and gained valuable first-team experience.

He featured in four Premiership Cup fixtures for the Tigers, marking his professional debut with a try away to Northampton Saints in November 2024.

Satala made his first appearance in Scotland colours for Emerging Scotland in November 2025.

He made his Edinburgh debut on the wing against Bath at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup in January 2026, and scored his first try for the club against Leinster in Dublin a fortnight later.

A run of starts followed through the second half of the season, including the URC tour to South Africa and the Champions Cup Round of 16 clash with Leinster.

The winger has kicked on in 2026/27, taking his chance with Edinburgh’s senior back three sidelined through injury. He scored in the opening-round win over Ulster in Belfast and started in each of the club’s first three URC victories.