Ilona Maher celebrated her first start for Bristol with a break for a try as part of an impressive performance in the 41-31 win against Exeter at Sandy Park.
Maher, the game’s most popular player on social media with more than eight million followers, ran half-court and bounced off two tackles in a 55th-minute try thanks to her pace and strength.
The USA sevens star also showed her worth as a provider when she came off her wing to draw three defenders before setting up Meg Varley to score the try for the extra point that keeps Bristol in the Premiership Women’s Rugby play-off battle.
“I felt like I had seven. My teammates did a job of pushing me and I had to go through a couple of defenders. I thought ‘oh, this is seven!'” Maher told TNT Sports.
“I don’t go around people, it’s never happened to me – never! I don’t go around them, I always pass. It really doesn’t come naturally to me.
“Now I will understand when I have three people in front of me, how do I go through them? I was more proud of the help with the attempt. I took a small step there, which I never did before.”
Maher won a bronze medal at last summer’s Paris Olympics and has her sights set on earning a spot on the U.S. national team that will compete in the World Cup, hosted by England later this year.
She made her first 15s appearance since 2021 a week ago when she came off the bench in a 40-17 loss to Gloucester-Hartpury.
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