| Emeka Ilione | |
| Birth Name: | Remigius Chukwuemeka Ilione |
| Birth Date: | 20 March 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Mansfield, England |
| School: | Nottingham High School Rugby School |
| University: | University of Nottingham |
| Position: | Back Row |
| Currentclub: | Leicester Tigers |
| Years1: | 2020– |
| Clubs1: | →Nottingham (loan) |
| Apps1: | 6 |
| Points1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Apps2: | 28 |
| Points2: | 30 |
| Repyears1: | 2019 |
| Repcaps1: | 3 |
| Reppoints1: | 5 |
| Repyears2: | 2021–2022 |
| Repcaps2: | 10 |
| Reppoints2: | 20 |
| Clubupdate: | 2 December 2024 |
| Repupdate: | 12 July 2022 |
Remigius Chukwuemeka Ilione, commonly known as Emeka (born 20 March 2002),[1] is an English professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, his preferred position is back row.[2]
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]
In August 2019 Ilione scored a try for England under-18 in a defeat against South Africa.[6] He was a member of the squad that won the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and started in the fixture against Scotland.[5] [7] The following year saw him score tries against Wales and Ireland during the 2022 U20 tournament.[8] [9]
Ilione was offered a professional contract with Leicester in the summer of 2022,[10] 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.[11]
Ilione balances his professional rugby career with studying medicine at the University of Nottingham.[12]