{{short description|PNG international rugby league footballer & murder victim}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Aquila Emil |fullname = |image = |image_size = |caption = |position = {{rlp|FE|HB}} |birth_date = {{circa|1967}} |birth_place = Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |death_date = 4 February 2011 (aged 44) |death_place = Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |height = |weight = |club1 = |year1start = |year1end = |appearances1 = |tries1 = |goals1 = |fieldgoals1 = |points1 = |teamA = {{nowrap|Papua New Guinea}} |yearAstart = 1992 |yearAend = 94 |appearancesA = 5 |triesA = 2 |goalsA = 1 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 10 |updated = |source = <ref name=rlp>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Aquila-Emil/summary.html Aquila Emil] ''rugbyleagueproject.org''</ref> |new = yes }}
'''Aquila Emil''' (died 4 February 2011<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07">{{cite web|url=http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110207/sport01.htm |title=Former Kumul gunned down |last=Todagia |first=Kelola |author2=Kaniniba, Alfred |date=2011-02-07 |publisher=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier |accessdate=8 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130416181923/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110207/sport01.htm |archivedate=2013-04-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>) was a Papua New Guinean rugby league player who represented Papua New Guinea .
==Playing career== Emil played for Port Moresby's Brothers rugby league club during the 1980s.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/> 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.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/>
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.<ref>[http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/02/09/206371_news.html Former Cowboy Emil gunned down ] ''Townsville Bulletin'', 9 February 2011</ref> Emil was in the original Port Moresby Vipers squad to play in the Inter-City competition.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/>
Following the end of his playing career, Emil worked at the schools rugby league level.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/> Later, Emil became involved in the PNG NRL Bid's schools rollout program.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/>
==Death== Emil died in a shooting in Port Moresby in the early morning of 4 February 2011.<ref name="TodagiaKaniniba2011-02-07"/> 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.<ref name="Fox2011-02-08staffer-charged">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/08/3133495.htm?section=justin |title=Ex-PM staffer charged over footy murder |last=Fox |first=Liam |date=2011-02-08 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=8 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210103506/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/08/3133495.htm?section=justin |archive-date=2011-02-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130416071330/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120719/news05.htm Aquila Emil’s murder case trial resumes] ''postcourier.com.pg'', 19 July 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/former-png-bureaucrat-dr-theo-yasause-charged-with-murder-of-rugby-league-legend-aquila-emil/story-e6frg6so-1226002094337 Former PNG bureaucrat Dr Theo Yasause charged with murder of rugby league legend Aquila Emil ] ''The Australia'', 8 February 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yasause gets 30 years jail – The National |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/yasause-gets-30-years-jail/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=www.thenational.com.pg}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Papua New Guinea squad 1992 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emil, Aquila}} Category:1967 births Category:2011 deaths Category:20th-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen Category:Deaths by firearm in Papua New Guinea Category:Papua New Guinean expatriate rugby league players in Australia Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players Category:Papua New Guinean expatriate rugby league players Category:Papua New Guinean murder victims Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league players Category:People murdered in Papua New Guinea Category:Port Moresby Vipers players Category:Rugby league five-eighths Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:Rugby league players from the National Capital District (Papua New Guinea) Category:Place of birth missing