Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
PWR

Ilona Maher makes low-key debut in Bristol Bears defeat

Ilona Maher of Bristol Bears makes her way onto the pitch as she comes on as a replacement during the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate on January 05, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Ilona Maher’s eagerly anticipated debut for Bristol Bears didn’t quite go to plan as the home side fell to a heavy 40-17 defeat against Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate.

ADVERTISEMENT

The American superstar and social media sensation entered the match for the final 20 minutes but went that entire time on the pitch without seeing the ball.

Her limited involvement reflected a challenging day for the Bears, who struggled against the reigning Premiership Women’s Rugby champions.

Video Spacer

Champions Cup best SA XV not in SA teams | RPTV

Video Spacer

Champions Cup best SA XV not in SA teams | RPTV

Robbie Fleck and Nick Mallett pick their best South African XV playing in the Champions Cup, but not in South African teams. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Maher’s debut – her first appearance in 15s rugby since 2021 – started on the right wing before she was moved to the left flank.

Her most notable moment came when she failed in an attempt to dive on a loose ball, which directly led to Gloucester’s fifth try via Mia Venner. The incident spoke to a frustrating afternoon for both the player and her side, with Gloucester’s second-half dominance ensuring they remained in control throughout the match.

Bristol fell short despite tries from Millie David, Alisha Joyce-Butchers, and Sarah Bern. Gloucester-Hartpury were good value for their win, scoring six tries through Emma Sing, Natasha Hunt, Maud Muir, Rachel Lund, Venner, and Georgia Brock; with Sing adding five conversions to seal a convincing victory.

Maher’s debut had drawn significant attention, with a record-breaking crowd of 9,240  fans turning out to watch the 28-year-old Olympic sevens bronze medalist make her Bristol debut. Despite the disappointing result, Maher’s arrival has already made waves off the field, with the Bears reporting a surge in replica shirt sales and a remarkable increase in their social media following.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bristol head coach Dave Ward, speaking before the match, acknowledged the challenge of integrating Maher into the side mid-season but expressed optimism about her potential impact in the weeks to come.

Maher won an Olympic 7s bronze medal with the United States in Paris and then went on to become the runner-up on Dancing with the Stars, the American equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing.

PWR chair Genevieve Shore said: “We are excited to have Ilona in the PWR at Bristol Bears. We believe she will have an incredibly positive impact on the Bears, PWR and women’s rugby in general. Ilona is such an impressive person and, as we have seen, takes on every challenge presented to her in an incredible way.”

Related

 


To be first in line for Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia tickets, register your interest here 

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 2 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Key questions for four Australian teams on final stretch of Super Rugby Pacific Key questions for four Australian teams on final stretch of Super Rugby Pacific
Search