Originally from Taranaki, Lile enlisted in the Army for the South African War but was sent home from South Africa when it was discovered that he was only 15.[2] Lile remained in the Army and became an Artillery man.
Rugby union career
Lile played rugby union for the Oriental club in Wellington alongside Albert Baskiville and was a Wellington representative. Lile was widely regarded as being one of the top 30 players in the country during the 1907 season and he won North Island selection that year.[3]
Rugby league career
Lile was selected by Baskiville to be part of the professional All Blacks1907-1908 tour of Australia and Great Britain. As a result, he received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. During the tour his background as a soldier proved useful as he often led the team in training drills. While on tour Lile played in three test matches and scored two tries in all tour games.
On his return from the tour Lile was instrumental to the foundation of the Taranaki Rugby League. The team met with immediate success and in the 1909 season defeated both Wellington and Auckland, despite both teams featuring many of his fellow tourists. Lile was the Taranaki player-coach in both the 1908 and 1909 seasons.
Adam Lile was born in 1885, the son of Adam Lile (Lisle) and Eliza Dandy. He had 7 siblings. In 1910 he married Ida Alberta Fleet. They had two children, Joyce Ngaere Lile in 1911 and Addie Bernard Lile in 1914.