Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
PWR

Ilona Maher named for her first Bristol Bears start

By PA
Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher during last Sunday's Ashton Gate warm-up (Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Ilona Maher will make her first start for Bristol in Sunday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby match against Exeter at Sandy Park. The USA sevens star was given her Bears debut off the bench against champions Gloucester-Hartpury last weekend, completing 20 minutes in the 40-17 defeat – her first 15s appearance since 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 28-year-old – the world’s most popular rugby player on social media with over eight million followers – has been picked on the left wing after Millie David was ruled out by a hip injury.

Maher was unable to make a significant impact on her debut due to Gloucester-Hartpury’s dominance in the second half, but Bristol felt her drawing power with a crowd of 9,240 present at Ashton Gate.

Video Spacer

5 of the Best Ilona Maher SVNS series tries | RPTV

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      5 of the Best Ilona Maher SVNS series tries | RPTV

      Bristol’s star signing and Olympic bronze medalist has scored some spectacular tries for the USA Women’s 7s team. Watch the entire SVNS series this year on RugbyPass TV.

      Watch SVNS

      That was a record attendance for a Bears women’s game and also the highest for a standalone fixture in the league.

      Maher won a bronze medal at last summer’s Olympics in Paris and has set her sights on winning a place in the USA squad that will compete in the World Cup, which is being hosted by England later this year.

      Related

      Top 100

      Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players and let us know what you think! 



      ADVERTISEMENT

      Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

      Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

      O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 6 | Le Crunch

      The Unexpected Journey to USA 7s Glory | Aaron Cummings | Sevens Wonders

      USA vs Japan | Full Match Replay

      Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      LONG READ
      LONG READ Farrell puts his reputation on the line knowing tougher challenges lie ahead Farrell puts his reputation on the line knowing tougher challenges lie ahead
      Search