Jake Ilnicki

{{Short description|Canadian rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Jake Ilnicki

| image = JAKE ILNICKI (15297677900).jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption =

| birthname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|2|24}}

| birth_place = Williams Lake, British Columbia

| height = 1.80 m

| weight = {{convert|125|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}

| position = Prop

| amatyears1 = 2014-2015

| amatteam1 = Eastern Suburbs

| amatapps1 = 15

| amatpoints1 = 0

| years1 = 2014 | clubs1 = NSW Country Eagles

| years2 = 2016− | clubs2 = San Diego Breakers

| years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Manawatu}}

| years4 = 2016-2017 | clubs4 = Northampton Saints

| years5 = 2017-2018 | clubs5 = Newcastle Falcons

| years6 = 2018 | clubs6 = Yorkshire Carnegie

| years7 = 2019-2021 | clubs7 = Seattle Seawolves

| years8 = 2022- | clubs8 = Old Glory DC

| apps1 = 7 | points1 = 0

| apps2 = 6 | points2 = 0

| apps3 = 6 | points3 = 0

| apps4 = 0 | points4 = 0

| apps5 = 1 | points5 = 0

| apps6 = 7 | points6 = 0

| apps7 = 21 | points7 = 0

| apps8 = 11 | points8 = 0

| ru_clubupdate = 28 April 2022

| repyears1 = 2012

| repyears2 = 2013–

| repteam1 = Canada U20

| repteam2 = {{nrut|Canada}}

| repcaps1 = 4

| repcaps2 = 36

| reppoints1 = 0

| reppoints2 = 0

| ru_ntupdate=9 September 2019

}}

Jake Ilnicki (born 24 February 1992 in Williams Lake, British Columbia) is a Canadian rugby union prop who plays international rugby for Canada and professional club rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR). He has also played for the New South Wales Country Eagles in Australia's National Rugby Championship and for the Seattle Seawolves in MLR.

Ilnicki made his debut for Canada in 2013 and was part of the Canada squad at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/canada/player/45720|title=Profile|date=17 September 2015|work=Official Site 2015 Rugby World Cup|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929163046/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/canada/player/45720|archive-date=29 September 2015|url-status=dead}}

In early 2016, Ilnicki was signed to the San Diego Breakers PRO Rugby team.{{fact|date=January 2024}}

In December 2016, Ilnicki joined Aviva Premiership side Northampton Saints.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2016/dec-2016/saints-bring-in-canada-prop/|title = Saints bring in Canada prop}} The tight head prop made his first appearance in a Saints shirt during their Aviva 'A' League fixture against Leicester Tigers a few days after signing for the club.{{cite web| url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/saints/saints-boost-squad-as-they-sign-canada-prop-jake-ilnicki-1-7740064| title = Saints boost squad as they sign Canada prop Jake Ilnicki {{!}} Northampton Chronicle and Echo}}

Despite not making any first team appearances while with Saints, the Canadian prop helped Saints' second team the Northampton Wanderers reach the final of the Aviva 'A' League and eventually beat Gloucester United to lift the 2016/17 trophy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2017/apr-2017/wanderers-36-gloucester-15-the-wandies-clinch-the-aviva-a-league-title/|title = WANDERERS 36 GLOUCESTER 15 the Wandies clinch the Aviva 'A' League title}}

In May 2017, it was announced that Ilnicki would leave Saints at the conclusion of the 2016/17 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2017/may-2017/northampton-saints-confirms-departing-players/|title = Northampton Saints confirms departing players}} On 4 September 2017, Illnicki signed for English rivals Newcastle Falcons for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41149959|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Jake Ilnicki: Newcastle Falcons sign Canada prop after injuries to pair|date=4 September 2017|access-date=1 October 2017}}

Near the end of the 2019 Major League Rugby season Ilnicki signed up with the Seattle Seawolves,{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/05/17/seawolves-secure-canada-prop-jake-ilnicki/|title = Seawolves secure Canada prop Jake Ilnicki|publisher=Americas Rugby News|date=17 May 2019|access-date=18 March 2022}} playing in all their remaining matches that season including the 2019 Major League Rugby final. He stayed with Seattle for two subsequent seasons{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/02/02/jake-ilnicki-back-for-another-year-with-seawolves/|title = Jake Ilnicki back for another year with Seawolves|publisher=Americas Rugby News|date=2 February 2021|access-date=18 March 2022}} before signing with Old Glory DC for the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/11/23/old-glory-signs-jake-ilnicki-from-seattle/|title = Old Glory signs Jake Ilnicki from Seattle|publisher=Americas Rugby News|date=23 November 2021|access-date=18 March 2022}}