Emeka Ilione
English rugby union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remigius Chukwuemeka Ilione (ⓘ, commonly known as Emeka;born 20 March 2002),[1] is an English-French[2] professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, his preferred position is back row.[3]
20 March 2002
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| Born | Remigius Chukwuemeka Ilione 20 March 2002 Mansfield, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Nottingham High School Rugby School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Nottingham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life and education
Ilione was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire to Nigerian parents and attended Nottingham High School where he took up rugby at age 11,[4][5] before attending Rugby School where he was head boy.[6] He joined Leicester Tigers academy at under 13s.[4] [7]
Ilione balanced his professional rugby career with studying medicine at the University of Nottingham.[8]
Rugby playing career
Junior level
In August 2019 Ilione scored a try for England under-18 in a defeat against South Africa.[9] He was a member of the squad that won the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and started in the fixture against Scotland.[10][11] In 2021 his potential was highlighted by Maro Itoje naming him in a theoretical British-Nigerians XV.[10]
In 2022 Ilione scored tries against Wales and Ireland during the 2022 U20 tournament.[12][13]
Senior level
Ilione was offered a professional contract with Leicester in the summer of 2022,[14] 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.[15]
In May 2025 Ilione was called up to a training camp for the senior England squad by Steve Borthwick.[16] Ilione scored a 75th minute try in the 2025 Premiership Final to bring Leicester within 4 points, the subsequent conversion was the last score in Tigers 23–21 defeat.[17]
