{{short description|Samoan rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Stacey Ili | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|5|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{convert|181|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|94|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = Onehunga High School | university = | relatives = Shea Ili (brother) | occupation = | spouse = | position = Midfield back | currentclub = | years1 = 2015 | clubs1 = Melbourne Rising | apps1 = 8 | points1 = 20 | years2 = 2016 | clubs2 = {{rut|Auckland}} | apps2 = 1 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = Connacht | apps3 = 14 | points3 = 20 | years4 = 2018–2023 | clubs4 = {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} | apps4 = 61 | points4 = 30 | years5 = 2021–2023 | clubs5 = {{rut|Rebels}} | apps5 = 33 | points5 = 20 | repyears1 = 2018– | repteam1 = Samoa | repcaps1 = 9<!-- Total test international appearances --> | reppoints1 = 15<!-- Total test international points --> | clubupdate = 1 August 2024 | repupdate = 4 September 2024 }}
'''Stacey Ili''' (born 11 May 1991) is a professional rugby union player, who most recently played as a midfield back for {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.<ref name="Happy to have you back Stace">{{cite instagram | user=hbmagpies | postid=CwV0dmrB5c3 | date=25 August 2023 | title=Happy to have you back Stace | access-date=25 August 2023}}</ref> From 2021 to 2023 he also played for the {{rut|Rebels}} in Super Rugby.<ref name="Rebels reinforce depth for Super Rugby Pacific">{{cite press release | url=https://melbournerebels.rugby/news/2021/09/14/rebels-reinforce-depth-for-super-rugby-pacific | title=Rebels reinforce depth for Super Rugby Pacific | website=Melbourne Rebels | language=en | date=15 September 2021 | access-date=27 September 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921111112/https://melbournerebels.rugby/news/2021/09/14/rebels-reinforce-depth-for-super-rugby-pacific | archive-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented Manu Samoa internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Samoan heritage.
==Early life== Ili was a student at Onehunga High School in Auckland. While there he played rugby union for the school side.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/38435 | work=Auckland Rugby Union | title=Fonoti poised for first Auckland start | access-date=20 September 2016 | quote=Fonoti played 1st XV rugby at Onehunga High School alongside Taleni Seu, last week’s debutant Stacey Ili ad [''sic''] well as Josh Kaifa who is set to debut tomorrow night.}}</ref> Ili also played basketball for the school.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10587310 | work=The New Zealand Herald | title=College sport: Westlake success boost for Tall Blacks | date=29 July 2009 | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> Ili was involved with Auckland from 2012 and played sevens for the side, but did not represent the senior XVs side before his move to Australia to join Melbourne Rising.<ref name="Connacht signing Newstalk">{{cite web| url=http://www.newstalk.com/Connacht-strengthen-squad-with-the-arrival-of-Auckland-back-Stacey-Ili | work=Newstalk | title=Connacht strengthen squad with the arrival of Auckland back Stacey Ili | date=14 September 2016 | access-date=20 September 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113135125/http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.302/82221/0/ | archive-date=13 November 2016}}</ref>
==Professional rugby career== ===Melbourne Rising=== Ili played for Melbourne Rising, the Melbourne Rebels' NRC side in the 2015 season. He made seven appearances in the nine-game regular season, starting all of them, and scored tries against North Harbour Rays, Perth Spirit and Sydney Stars as the Rising finished third to qualify for the play-offs.<ref name="It's rugby player profile">{{cite web| url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur-35612.html | website=Itsrugby.co.uk | title=It's rugby player profile: Stacey Ili | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> Ili started the play-off semi-final against the UC Vikings and scored the game's opening try after 16 minutes, but was ultimately on the losing side with the Rising beaten 50–34.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/vikings-see-off-the-rising/ | work=Green and Gold Rugby | title=Vikings see off the Rising | date=23 October 2015 | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>
===Auckland=== Ili returned to his native New Zealand for the 2016 season, joining Auckland. He started on the wing for the team in their opening match away to Canterbury, where Auckland were beaten 43–3.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-rugby-team/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503692&objectid=11696646 | work=The New Zealand Herald | title=Rugby: Auckland name Olympian brothers for Mitre 10 Cup opener | date=18 August 2016 | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, it was announced that Ili had signed for Irish side Connacht, and would be joining the team within a week, meaning he would depart before the end of the season.<ref name="Connacht signing The42">{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/stacey-ili-connacht-signing-2979348-Sep2016/ | work=The42 | title=Connacht announce signing of Stacey Ili from Auckland | date=14 September 2016 | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>
===Connacht=== Ili joined Connacht for the 2016–17 Pro12 season.<ref name="Connacht signing Newstalk"/><ref name="Connacht signing The42"/>
==Personal life== Ili's younger brother, Shea, is a professional basketball player. Shea Ili plays as a point guard and has played internationally for New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/i-miss-home-i-miss-the-food-but-i-am-enjoying-life-out-west-35580563.html | work=Irish Independent | title='I miss home, I miss the food, but I am enjoying life out west' | date=20 June 2017 | access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>
==Super Rugby statistics==
{{updated|3 June 2023|<ref name="It's rugby player profile"/>}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !!Red<!-- Games St Sub Min T C P FG Pts YC RC --> |- | 2021 AU || {{Rut|Rebels}} || 8 || 8 || 0 || 554 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2021 TT || {{Rut|Rebels}} || 4 || 3 || 1 || 201 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2022 || {{Rut|Rebels}} || 10 || 9 || 1 || 700 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2023 || {{Rut|Rebels}} || 11 || 9 || 2 || 639 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 33 || 29 || 4 || 2,094 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 20 || 0 || 0 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/stacey-ili NZ Rugby History profile] * {{All.Rugby profile|stacey-ili}} * {{ItsRugby profile|stacey-ili-35612}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ili, Stacey}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Ireland Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in Ireland Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in Australia Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:People educated at Onehunga High School Category:Melbourne Rising players Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:Connacht Rugby players Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players Category:Melbourne Rebels players Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:Rugby union wings