Ilona Maher makes Bristol Bears debut in defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury in front of record PWR crowd
Ilona Maher made Bristol Bears debut vs Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury in front of record crowd of 9,240; Maher: "It's like soccer players and Ronaldo, Messi, whatever. To have someone wear my jersey feels like I'm making an impact"
Last Updated: 06/01/25 11:26am
Social media sensation Ilona Maher's eagerly-anticipated Bristol debut ended in defeat as Premiership champions Gloucester-Hartpury beat the Bears 40-17 at Ashton Gate.
American back Maher has more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, making her the world's most followed rugby player.
Maher's mere presence generated a Bristol record crowd of 9,240 for a women's game - and league-highest for a standalone fixture - with the 28-year-old having a 20-minute introduction off the replacements' bench.
Maher won Olympic sevens bronze with the United States in Paris but she has not played 15s since 2021.
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Maher on her PWR debut for Bristol
"I was definitely very nervous. But then I think I wanted to make my team-mates proud and show I deserved to be out there. Once I did get on the field I felt like 'OK, this is rugby' it is something I have been doing for the last 10 years now, it's in my blood.
"I didn't feel nervous pre-match or this morning. It wasn't until I was on the bench. I think it's almost more (nervous) to be a sub, because you think 'maybe I will touch the ball once and I won't mess it up'. But once I got out there I was pretty calm."
She is hoping to reacquaint herself with the format in a bid to gain selection for the USA squad that will travel to the England-hosted World Cup later this year.
The USA's opening World Cup game is against tournament favourites England in Sunderland on August 22.
Her three-month Bristol contract began in a repeat of last season's Premiership final, going on after 60 minutes with her team 18 points adrift following a Gloucester scoring burst of three tries in eight minutes that secured a bonus-point.
Maher had already made a significant impact, underpinning a considerable increase in replica shirt sales, while Bristol's Instagram following has risen from 21,000 to 67,000 since her signing was announced.
Maher rose to fame on social media through combining messages of body positivity and female empowerment with her signature sharp sense of humour.
She was also runner-up on Dancing with the Stars - the American equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing - and received the afternoon's biggest cheer when she replaced Reneeqa Bonner and lined up on Bears' right wing.
Maher made her presence felt in a couple of rucks and looked for work off the wing but she could make little impact to the overall picture and did not receive a pass as Bristol finished second-best despite tries from Millie David, Alisha Joyce-Butchers and Sarah Bern.
Gloucester-Hartpury outscored them on tries as Emma Sing, Natasha Hunt, Maud Muir, Rachel Lund, Mia Venner and Georgia Brock touched down, with Sing kicking five conversions.
Maher: I feel like I'm making an impact
Speaking to media afterwards at Ashton Gate, Maher said...
"You know, it's really important for me to connect with them because it's not only the next generation of rugby players, it's the next generation of fans.
"I think what's cool is there was a lot of women out there, right? And for men's sport you have a lot of men fans, especially for rugby. It's a boy's club.
"You have a lot of old men going to their team's games. They've lived in Bristol their whole life, they are Bristol fans, they are going to go to the Bristol men's game.
"Can we now get women as our supporters and fans, buying our jerseys? Women have power and influence. And I think they are a good fanbase to have because they are a committed people.
"For me, it's important to go out there and connect with them so they come to the next game and the next game. Whether they are playing rugby or not.
"I love seeing that [jerseys with Maher on the back]. I think that's so fun. It means a lot when people wear my gear, my shirt, because that's something you dream about: having your name on the back of a jersey and someone wearing it.
"It's like soccer players and Ronaldo, Messi, whatever. To have someone wear my jersey feels like I'm making an impact."
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