Ilona Maher has been stunning the world – from beautiful performances on Dancing With the Stars to helping the USA win bronze in women’s rugby at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now, she’s setting off on a new adventure across the pond, competing for the Bristol Bears.
On January 5, 2025, Maher played in her first match after switching mid-season to join the UK team. The game was personal for her new team, as they faced off against rivals Gloucester-Hartpury, who defeated the Bears in the last championship match. This year, the Bears are faring worse for the wear, ranked fifth in league play. By the season’s end, The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
The highly anticipated rematch sold a record 9,240 tickets, forcing the teams to move the game to a larger stadium. The growing interest in women’s rugby comes ahead of the 2025 World Cup, for which Maher hopes to earn a spot on the US Eagles team. However, Maher’s specialty is sevens rugby—a version of the sport with fewer players than the Premiership Women’s Rugby league she is currently playing in.
The match started off rough for the Bears, who conceded a try and conversion, putting them down seven points. However, they rallied with a score from winger Millie David. Their luck seemed to come to a close when Lleucu George was yellow-carded and ejected from the game. After the first 40-minute half, the Bears were up 10-7.
Gloucester-Hartpury regained the lead early in the second half with two tries and conversions, tripling their score. Maher then made her debut for the Bears, hopping off the bench in the 66th minute of the match. She brought a new energy to the field, helping teammate Holly Aitchison score a try and conversion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop Gloucester-Hartpury’s momentum, as the rivals scored another two tries before the final whistle.
Though her first match with the Bristol Bears ended in a defeat, Maher proved to be a force on the field of 15s. Her celebrity presence also helped to draw in a monumental crowd, bringing more worldwide recognition to women’s rugby.