- American back Maher has more than 8 million followers on Instagram and TikTok
- She admitted nerves got the best of her when she made her long-awaited debut for the Bristol Bears.
Ilona Maher admitted nerves got the better of her as she made her long-awaited Bristol Bears debut in front of a record crowd.
The second half substitute was unable to alter the result (a 40-17 Ashton Gate defeat against Premiership champions Gloucester-Hartpury) but it still proved a great success.
American back Maher has more than 8 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, making her the most followed rugby player in the world.
Her mere presence generated a Bristol attendance record of 9,240 for a women's match, and the 28-year-old had a 20-minute cameo from the bench.
He spent more than an hour signing autographs and posing for photographs afterward (some fans traveled from Kentucky and Washington), underscoring the impact he will have during his three-month stay in the West Country.
“I was definitely very nervous,” Maher said. “But I wanted to make my teammates proud and show them that I deserved to be there. Once I got on the field I felt: 'OK, this is rugby', it's something I've been doing for the last 10 years, it's in my blood. .
Ilona Maher admitted nerves got the better of her as she made her long-awaited debut for Bristol Bears.
American defender Maher has more than eight million followers on Instagram and TikTok
“Once I got out it was pretty calm.”
Maher made his presence felt in a couple of rucks and looked for work from the wing but was able to make little impact as Gloucester-Hartpury dominated.
Maher won Olympic sevens bronze with the United States in Paris, but had not played in teams of 15 since 2021.
He hopes to reacquaint himself with the format in an attempt to earn selection for the United States team that will travel to the World Cup in England this year.
“It's very different from Seven,” added Maher (right). 'Seven is a battle and 15 is a war. It was tough out there. For me I was just trying to observe and understand.
“I think in each game I'm going to learn more and more and you learn a lot by losing, but it also prepares you for the next game.”
Bristol's followers on Instagram have increased from 21,000 to 67,000 since his signing.
She rose to fame on social media by combining messages of body positivity and female empowerment with her sharp sense of humour, while also coming second on Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Maher was a big star at the Olympics and has now taken his talents to the Bristol Bears.
“I was just trying to promote the game as much as possible,” he said.
“Having 9,240 people there is great. You are seeing that the level of women's rugby is getting better every year.
'For me it is very important to connect with them. They are not just the next generation of rugby players, but the next generation of fans.
'The good thing is that there were a lot of women out there. Women have power, they have influence and they make a good fan base.'