Ilona Maher has announced Bristol Bears starting line-up for Premiership Women's Rugby clash against Exeter Chiefs | Rugby news


American rugby star Ilona Maher will 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, having made her debut as a substitute an hour into Bristol's 40-17 loss to of defense. champions Gloucester-Hartpury last week.

The arrival of Maher, the most followed rugby player on social media, boosted ticket sales and her debut drew 9,240 fans to Ashton Gate – a league record attendance.

Exeter did not release figures but said Sunday's game at Sandy Park would be “our biggest home crowd of the season”.

Maher has more than eight million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined. She was also runner-up Dancing with the stars – American equivalent Strictly Come Dancing.

Ilona Maher, Bristol Bears (PA Images)
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Maher made her Bristol Bears debut in front of a league record crowd on Sunday off the bench

Maher on his PWR debut for Bristol

“I was definitely very nervous. But then I think I wanted to make my team-mates proud and show that I deserved to be there. When I got on the pitch I felt 'OK, this is rugby' it's something I've been doing for the last 10 years, it's in my blood.

“I didn't feel nervous before the match or this morning. That was until I was on the bench. I think it's almost more (nervous) being a substitute, because you think 'maybe I'll touch the ball once and I won't mess it up', but when I came out, I was I'm pretty calm.”

The Vermont native returns to the Game 15 side in hopes of increasing her chances of making the U.S. team for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

Last Sunday's match was her first appearance in the 15s since 2021.

The USA's World Cup opener is against tournament favorites England in Sunderland on August 22.

Ilona Maher
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Maher won bronze with the United States women's rugby sevens team at this year's Paris Olympics

Maher's three-month deal with Bristol began in a replay of last season's Premiership final, and she came on after 60 minutes with her side 18 points behind after Gloucester scored a run of three tries in eight minutes that secured the bonus point.

Maher has already made a significant impact, fueling a significant increase in replica shirt sales, while Bristol's Instagram followers have grown from 21,000 to 67,000 since her signing was announced.

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