Ilona Maher announces Bristol Bears starting squad for Premiership Women’s Rugby clash against Exeter Chiefs | Rugby Union News
American rugby star Ilona Maher is set to make her first start for Bristol Bears on Sunday at Exeter Chiefs in the Women’s Rugby Premiership.
The 28-year-old, who helped lead the USA to a bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics, will start on the wing against Exeter on Sunday after making her debut as a substitute an hour into Bristol’s 40-17 loss to defending champions Gloucester -Hartpury last week.
The arrival of Maher, the most followed female rugby player on social media, boosted ticket sales and her debut attracted 9,240 fans to Ashton Gate – a league record attendance.
Exeter did not release figures but said Sunday’s game at Sandy Park would have “our biggest home crowd of the season”.
Maher has more than eight million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined. She was also runner-up at Dancing with the stars – American equivalent for Strictly Come Dancing.
The Vermont native returns to the Game 15 side in hopes of increasing her chances of making the USA’s 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad in England.
Last Sunday’s game was her first 15 since 2021.
The USA opens the World Cup against favorites England in Sunderland on August 22.
Maher’s three-month deal with Bristol began with a repeat of last season’s Premiership final, and she exited after 60 minutes with her side 18 points behind after Gloucester’s run of three tries in eight minutes secured the bonus point.
Maher has already made a significant impact, fueling a significant increase in replica shirt sales, while Bristol’s Instagram following has grown from 21,000 to 67,000 since her signing was announced.
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