Rugby star and social media sensation Ilona Maher is poised to make her team debut in front of a record crowd in Bristol this weekend.
Maher, the American back who boasts a following of more than eight million on Instagram and TikTok, will begin her three-month stint with the Bears against the reigning Premiership Women’s Rugby champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, at Ashton Gate this Sunday, a fixture mirroring last season’s climax.
Ticket sales have soared past 8,000, nearly double the previous highest attendance recorded for a Bears’ women’s fixture, as fans gear up to witness Maher’s anticipated appearance off the substitutes’ bench.
Having returned to the West Country on Wednesday after an initial week-long spell at the club in December, Maher, aged 28, has already made waves. Her arrival has sparked a significant uptick in merchandise sales and boosted Bristol’s Instagram followers from 21,000 to an impressive 67,000 post-signing announcement.
Dave Ward, head coach of the Bears, said: “With a crowd of nearly 8,000 expected at Ashton Gate on Sunday, it’s a hugely exciting occasion and we’re hoping to give them something to cheer about.”
He further underscored the significance of the match and the team’s optimistic stance, stating, “We understand the importance of the game in the context of our season, and the quality of the reigning champions, but we head into the game with confidence and relishing the occasion and the challenge.”
Maher, versatile enough to feature as centre or wing, has previously clinched a sevens bronze for the USA in Paris and was the runner-up on Dancing with the Stars, the US’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing.
At 28, she’s been off the 15s pitch since 2021, but now she’s aiming to get reacquainted with the format. Her goal is a spot on the USA team heading to England for this summer’s World Cup. Her rugby journey started at Quinnipiac University, where she got a taste for 15s and earned two caps internationally in the 2021 Pacific Four Series.
Aside from her athletic prowess, Maher has become the most followed rugby star on social media, famous for weaving together body positivity and female empowerment with her uniquely sharp wit.
PWR chair Genevieve Shore could hardly hide her excitement. She said: “We are excited to have Ilona in the PWR at Bristol Bears. We believe she will have an incredibly positive impact on the Bears, PWR and women’s rugby in general.”
Shore continued by praising Maher’s resilience: “Ilona is such an impressive person and, as we have seen, takes on every challenge presented to her in an incredible way.”
“It’s her next big hurdle playing in PWR with many of the sport’s biggest names. But if anyone’s going to thrive it’s Ilona, and we’re thrilled about her joining us,” Shore added, clearly optimistic about Maher’s upcoming stint.
Shore also touched on the unique culture within women’s rugby, stating: “One of the great things we love about women’s rugby is that there are some really different characters in the game and that they are allowed to express themselves perhaps more than the male athletes are, so we all have to embrace Ilona’s time with us.”
