Ilona Maher’s impact on women’s rugby in England had been significant even before she had stepped on a rugby pitch in the country. On Sunday came the American’s time to make a telling contribution on the field of play as she scored a sensational 70-yard try in her first start for her new team.
Receiving the ball inside her own half after the break, Maher evaded one tackle before running through another defender to score the sixth try in Bristol Bears’ 41-31 victory over play-off rivals Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), the country’s top 15-a-side league.
Reflecting on her length-of-the-field score, Maher told TNT Sports: “I don’t go around people, I always go through!”
The bonus-point win sees Bristol close the gap on Exeter, who occupy the fourth and final playoff position.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, the Bears led 38-19 on the road at Sandy Park thanks to Maher’s lung-busting effort which will no doubt draw comparisons with the try the great Jonah Lomu scored at the men’s 1995 Rugby World Cup against England; the New Zealand wing beating three English defenders, famously trampling over the last would-be tackler, in one of the most memorable tries in the sport’s history.
During the advent of the professionalisation of the men’s game in the 1990s, Lomu became the global star of the men’s game and transcended his sport. Three decades on, Maher — playing on the left wing, just like Lomu — is doing the same for women’s rugby union.
A 2024 Olympic bronze medallist with USA, Maher is making her first foray into rugby’s 15-a-side format having signed a three-year contract with the west Country club, situated over 100 miles from London.
Ilona Maher doing Ilona Maher things! 🔥
What a way to get you first ever @ThePWR try! @ilona_maher shows off her power down the wing with a fantastic solo effort 👏#EXEvBRI | @ThePWR | @BristolBearsW pic.twitter.com/oD3b8cJgBl
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 12, 2025
Often described as the most-followed rugby player in the world on social media, the 28-year-old is much more than a TikTok and Instagram star. An Olympian who has been named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, she has cut through to a new audience with the help of her humour, empowering body-confident videos and, of course, talent.
A record crowd watched her make her 20-minute debut last week, her presence on the replacements’ bench drawing over 9,000 for Bristol’s game against local rivals Gloucester-Hartpury, a match which ended in defeat for the hosts. Within 72 hours of her three-month deal being announced, the fixture was moved to a 27,000-seater stadium near the Bears’ usual 2,000-capacity venue.
The Bears’ next home game, against Leicester Tigers on January 18, has also been moved to that same Ashton Gate Stadium, usually home to the city’s soccer and men’s rugby union teams, “due to unprecedented demand”.
Selected on the wing, a position where the team’s quickest and most clinical finishers typically play, Maher also displayed some deft handling against the Chiefs, offloading beautifully for Meg Varley to score, proving there is more to her game than power and pace.
The Women’s World Cup takes place in England later this year and Maher is hoping to earn herself a place in USA’s roster, with host nation England taking on their American counterparts on August 22.
The longer format of the sport is typically more attritional and features more than twice as many players. Matches also last over four times longer (80 minutes to 14).
“To get my feet wet in this will really help me going to a World Cup and being the best for my team, Team USA,” Maher added.
“It’s been so great, the team is literally so welcoming and it’s such a cool environment to learn in, so it’s the best team I could’ve chosen.”
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
