Premiership Women's Rugby: USA icon Ilona Maher joins Bristol Bears - 'Inspire the next generation'
By Leon Imber
Published 02/12/2024 at 22:01 GMT
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USA rugby star Ilona Maher will join Premiership Women's Rugby side Bristol Bears on a three-month contract in January, the club announced on Monday. Maher, one of the sport's most iconic figures, helped USA to a bronze medal in the sevens event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Bears hope Maher can help to "inspire the next generation" within women's rugby.
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Ilona Maher will join Premiership Women's Rugby side Bristol Bears in January on a three-month contract.
The utility back is returning to 15-a-side rugby after three years playing in sevens, in which she helped guide USA to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Maher is one of the sport's most renowned stars and, per Bristol Bears, is the most followed rugby player on social media.
She is hoping game time in the Premiership will help her secure a spot in the USA squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, which is set to be held in England.
"I am excited to join the Bristol Bears and put myself in the best position to earn a spot to represent USA in the 2025 Rugby World Cup alongside such a talented and driven group as the Bears," Maher told club media.
Bristol Bears said Maher had travelled to England to take part in training and meet her new team-mates before heading back to the United States until 2025, when her contract comes into effect.
Head coach Dave Ward described the signing as a "huge coup" and hopes Maher's sizeable influence within the sport can help to "inspire the next generation".
Ward said: "This is a huge coup to be able to bring Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears on a short-term deal.
"She is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will add real value to our programme on and off the field.
"Ilona is one of the standout stars in the sevens game and we can’t wait to see her play for Bears in XVs.
"Her ability ball in hand will give our attack a new dimension and her desire to star in the Rugby World Cup in England next summer is a huge driving force for her to achieve great things at Bears.
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"Her profile as an athlete to inspire the next generation aligns exactly with ours as a club and we can only applaud the work she has and will do for the women’s game."
Bears' first Premiership outing of 2025 comes against fellow West Country outfit Gloucester-Hartpury.
Ward's troops sit fourth in the Premiership Women's Rugby standings, eight points off leaders Exeter Chiefs.
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