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American rugby star Ilona Maher pulled the biggest crowd in the history of the Bristol Bears on her debut but has promised there's ,ore to come from her.
American rugby star Ilona Maher might have only played for 20 minutes of Bristol Bears' eventual defeat to rivals Gloucester-Hartpury on her debut for the home club on January 5, but her influence was bouncing around the stadium.
Before Maher had even stepped out onto the pitch, the impact of her arrival was being felt across women's domestic rugby union in the UK. News of the 28-year-old's signing for the West country club in December created such a buzz that the Bears moved this fixture from their usual ground of Shaftesbury Park to Ashton Gate.
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08:00 - 07.12.2024
'I have something else' - Ilona Maher reveals reason she became rugby's biggest star
American rugby superstar Ilona Maher shot to stardom at the Paris Olympics and her personality as a social media figure has made her stand out since.
In the end, 9,240 fans came out, smashing the Bears' previous record attendance of 4,101 against Harlequins in May 2022 and setting a new Premiership Women's Rugby record for a standalone game. "I saw the line of people out there after full-time and was like, 'I'm going to take as many photos as I can'," Maher told the BBC.
"They bought a seat and that seat is going to lead to hopefully some more seats, and fans are the revenue we need to bring in to make this league bigger. It's almost - I feel - my duty. They're doing so much, so I want to do more for them," she added.
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09:33 - 10.12.2024
How to watch American rugby star Ilona Maher at the Bristol Bears
Ilona Maher is a household name in rugby and her move to England is set to draw more attention in 2025 but the 28-yea-old has proven previously that she can withstand pressure
Maher is the most followed rugby union player - male or female - on social media. Her profiles have amassed more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Having long been an advocate for body positivity and women's sports, since claiming bronze as part of the USA's rugby sevens side at the Paris Olympics last summer, Maher's profile has only continued to skyrocket.
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