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Ilona Maher becomes rugby's most followed player on Instagram

291 days ago

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 28: Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States looks on during the Women’s Pool C match between Team United States and Team Brazil on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

USA sevens star and social media personality Ilona Maher became the most-followed rugby player on Instagram on Sunday when she surpassed current player Siya Kolisi and former All Black Sonny Bill Williams, who both have 1.3 million followers.

Maher reached the one million mark on Friday, and surpassed Rugby World Cup-winning captain Kolisi only three days later. She currently has 1.4 million followers.

Olympic gold medallist Antoine Dupont also reached one million followers over that time period but is yet to surpass the heights reached by Maher and Kolisi.

World Rugby Guide to Rugby Sevens

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Olympic Rugby Sevens kicks off in Paris on Wednesday. Here’s your full explanation of how it’ll work!

She is currently competing at her second Olympic Games, and balances rugby with her ever-growing role on social media, with a further 1.5 million followers and over 100 million likes on TikTok.

The 27-year-old rose to fame online ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when she provided insight into life in the Olympic village.

The USA opened their 2024 Games with wins over Japan and Brazil, Maher scoring in both after a series of barnstorming carries.

In attendance were former NFL player Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce, who both featured on Maher’s social media after the day’s action.

In a video with former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason who retired in March 2024, Maher asks him if he will be their ‘super fan’, citing Flavor Flav’s support for the USA water polo team.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ilona Maher (@ilonamaher)

Kylie, who is a former college field hockey player and is married to Jason was also pictured with Maher on the rugby star’s Instagram story with the caption: “Great to finally meet you @kykelce. Tell the girls [Kylie and Jason’s daughters Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett] I will be their personal rugby coach if they want to play”.

The Kelces spent time with the USA women’s sevens team after day one of their competition and were also spotted in the stands supporting the field hockey team the night before. Jason’s brother Travis plays for Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs, where Welsh rugby to American football convert Louis Rees-Zammit is also on the books.

Day one of the women’s sevens saw a record women’s crowd set as 66,000 people witnessed the opening matches. The USA go into day two second in Pool C and will face host nation France, who currently top the pool, before the placing matches are decided.

Other social media content from Maher over the Paris 2024 Olympics so far has included humorous TikTok videos of life in the Olympic Village, or Villa, as she has dubbed it. She’s also posted a video with Snoop Dogg, and had content reposted by singer Olivia Rodrigo after using one of her songs.

Maher uses her platform to create humorous and trending videos, but also promotes women’s rugby and is a passionate advocate for women’s sport and body positivity. She has the words “Beast Beauty Brains” in her Instagram bio, the same slogan which is on much of her merchandise.

The multi-talented athlete made the switch to rugby aged 17 after playing field hockey, basketball, and softball at high school. She cites her father’s involvement in growing the sport at Saint Michael’s College as the beginning of her knowledge of the game.

In 2017 she received the MA Sorensen Award for National Player of the Year. The award is named after MaryAnn Sorensen who was a trailblazer in collegiate women’s rugby, World Cup winner in 1991, and doctor. She has been at the presentation of the award since its inception in 2016, when it was first won by Hope Rogers.

The accolade, given to the best collegiate women’s rugby player in the country, was most recently won by Lindenwood University’s Freda Tafuna. Earlier this year, Tafuna became the first American XVs player to score in consecutive tests against the Black Ferns when she crossed the whitewash against them in the Pacific Four Series.

Away from rugby and social media, Maher is a registered nurse and graduated from Quinnipiac University with a degree in nursing in 2018.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 4 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 4 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 4 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 4 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍