Aquila Emil

Emil played for Port Moresby's Brothers rugby league club during the 1980s.^[2] He was selected for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls and represented the side in two World Cup matches in 1992. He captained Papua New Guinea at the 1994 World Sevens.^[2]

Emil joined the North Queensland Cowboys on a two-year contract in 1994 but, after playing in 1995 pre-season trials, asked for a release.^[3] Emil was in the original Port Moresby Vipers squad to play in the Inter-City competition.^[2]

Following the end of his playing career, Emil worked at the schools rugby league level.^[2] Later, Emil became involved in the PNG NRL Bid's schools rollout program.^[2]

Emil died in a shooting in Port Moresby in the early morning of 4 February 2011.^[2] Theo Yasause, a 44-year-old former chief of staff to Papua New Guinea prime minister Michael Somare, was charged with Emil's murder. Yasause pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.^[4][5][6][7]