Emeka Ilione

Emeka Ilione (born 20 March 2002)[1] is an English rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, his preferred position is back row.[2]

Emeka Ilione
Birth nameRemigius Chukwuemeka Ilione
Date of birth (2002-03-20) 20 March 2002
Place of birthMansfield, England
SchoolNottingham High School
Rugby School
UniversityNottingham University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back Row
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– →Nottingham (loan) ()
2022– Leicester Tigers 10 (5)
Correct as of 12 March 2023
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2022 England U20s
Correct as of 18 January 2022

Career

Ilione was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and attended Nottingham High School where he took up rugby at age 11,[3] before attending Rugby School where he was head boy.[4] He joined Leicester Tigers academy at under 13s.[3] In 2021 his potential was highlighted by Maro Itoje naming him in a theoretical British-Nigerians XV.[5]

Ilione was offered a professional contract with Leicester in the summer of 2022,[6] making his club debut on 29 March 2022 in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against London Irish at Welford Road. He made his Premiership league debut- on 7 January 2023 as a 79th minute replacement against Newcastle Falcons, and a week later made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 13 January 2023 in a win at ASM Clermont Auvergne.[7]

Ilione balances his professional rugby career with studying medicine at Nottingham University.[8]

References
  1. "Emeka Ilione profile". ItsRugby. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  2. "Emeka Ilione Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  3. Mockford, Sarah (1 September 2020). "Hotshot: Leicester back-row Emeka Ilione". Rugby World. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  4. Savage, Angus. "This is the best schoolboy rugby XV in the World in 2020 - NextGenXV". RugbyPass. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. Morgan, Charlie (25 June 2021). "Four new faces of English rugby: A medical student, the son of an All Black, a code-hopping prop and Ben Youngs' understudy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  6. "Graham Rowntree's son among six academy players to move up the ranks at Leicester". RugbyPass. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  7. "Champions Cup: Handre Pollard starts at fly-half with Freddie Steward on the wing for injury-hit Leicester Tigers". Planet Rugby. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  8. "Leicester Tigers: Emeka Ilione 'passionate' about combining rugby with medical degree". BBC Sport. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
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