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Sevens sensation Ilona Maher reveals desire to play at 2025 Rugby World Cup

Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States celebrates following victory during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match between Team United States and Team Australia on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Ilona Maher has expressed a desire to join the United States of America’s team for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. World Rugby recently celebrated the ‘one year to go’ milestone leading up to the showpiece event.

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In the last month or so in particular, Maher has emerged as the face of rugby union on social media with the American amassing an incredible following during the Olympics. Maher currently has 2.3 million followers on TikTok and 3.8 million on Instagram.

To put that into perspective, Maher has 1.3 million more followers on IG than the All Blacks and almost triple the following of the world champion Springboks. All Blacks great Dan Carter has 1.1 million and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has 1.3.

Maher releases candid videos on social media that have drawn a new audience to rugby union. During the USA’s run to Olympic bronze at the Paris Games, this writer saw multiple videos on social media of new fans riding the emotions with Maher during the USA’s run to history.

 

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There were a lot of videos published that mixed footage of Maher playing at the Olympics with Chappel Roan’s song ‘Femininomenon’ played – a song that combines feminine and phenomenon, which in itself highlights Maher’s impact.

But, in an exciting development for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and USA Rugby, Maher has recently revealed plans to “try to make that team” when the Eagles look to follow their history-making feat in sevens with some success in 15s.

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“Do not fear my new rugby fans, there’s going to be some rugby for ya,” Maher said on TikTok. “The biggest one that I’m going to highlight is next year is the women’s Rugby World Cup.

“This is going to be absolutely major.

“Now hold on, hold on, a little difference – this is rugby 15s, where what you were watching at the Olympics is rugby sevens. But, that’s just so cool there’s so many forms of rugby for you to watch.

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“This World Cup is going to take place in England and England loves their rugby and it is going to be a party, I have no doubt.

“I’ll try to be there. I’m going to try to make that team, see if they can use me somewhere on that field.

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“This is going to be so fun so keep eyes out on this. There’ll be games happening all over this year for you to watch and cheer and might be close to you so go check it out.”

At the Olympics, Maher released a series of hilarious videos before rugby sevens had even begun at the Games. The American took fans behind the scenes of the Athletes Village and social media users applauded her for that.

But, Maher’s crowning moment came on rugby sevens’ last day at the Games. After the three-day event for the men, and almost as many full days of play in the women’s competition, Maher led the USA into battle for a shot at Olympic bronze.

Team USA took on SVNS Series champions Australia, and incredibly, they won. Alex Sedrick went coast-to-coast as the Americans claimed their first-ever rugby sevens medal at an Olympics with a hard-fought 14-12 win.

“Ilona is without a doubt a superstar of these games. Full stop,” World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin told AFP.

“She is rugby’s most followed athlete, has a following that’s greater than most, if not all of the household names in Paris, and attracted an extra 300,000 Instagram and 100,000 TikTok followers overnight.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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