Aquila Emil (died 4 February 2011[2]) was a Papua New Guinean rugby league player who represented Papua New Guinea .

Aquila Emil
Personal information
Bornc. 1967
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Died4 February 2011 (aged 44)
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Halfback
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1992–94 Papua New Guinea 5 2 1 0 10
Source: [1]

Playing career edit

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]

Death edit

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]

References edit

  1. ^ Aquila Emil rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Todagia, Kelola; Kaniniba, Alfred (7 February 2011). "Former Kumul gunned down". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  3. ^ Former Cowboy Emil gunned down Townsville Bulletin, 9 February 2011
  4. ^ Fox, Liam (8 February 2011). "Ex-PM staffer charged over footy murder". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  5. ^ Aquila Emil’s murder case trial resumes postcourier.com.pg, 19 July 2012
  6. ^ Former PNG bureaucrat Dr Theo Yasause charged with murder of rugby league legend Aquila Emil The Australia, 8 February 2011
  7. ^ "Yasause gets 30 years jail – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 18 September 2023.