Emeka Ilione

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

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

In August 2019 Ilione scored a try for England under-18 in a defeat against South Africa. He was a member of the squad that won the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and started in the fixture against Scotland. The following year saw him score tries against Wales and Ireland during the 2022 U20 tournament.

Ilione was offered a professional contract with Leicester in the summer of 2022, 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.

Ilione balances his professional rugby career with studying medicine at the University of Nottingham.