Ilona Maher on verge of major step towards 15s Rugby World Cup

Ilona Maher is reportedly in talks to join a club in Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) - marking a significant step toward her ambition of playing in the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

Catapulted into fame this summer partly due to a star turn at the Olympic Sevens in Paris, the American rugby star has become the sport's most followed player on social media and according to the UK Telegraph is believed to be considering a move to England as part of her preparation for the tournament.

Bristol Bears have been named as a potential destination, with Gloucester-Hartpury also expressing interest in the 28-year-old.

Maher helping the USA secure a bronze medal at the Olympics garnered significant recognition beyond the rugby field, with her social media following quadrupling in the wake of the tournament. Her presence on social media - with over four million followers on Instagram and nearly three million on TikTok - is by some distance the biggest of any rugby player - male or female.

More recently she was named one of the most marketable athletes in the world, ranking eighth on SportsPro’s list.

The 28-year-old has further extended her public profile by appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and is currently participating in season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, one of America's most watched network shows.

A move to PWR would represent a substantial branding boost for the league given Maher’s global appeal and her potential to draw new audiences.

The tournament runs from August 22 to September 27, 2025, with the final scheduled at Twickenham.  It is expected to be a landmark event for women’s rugby and Maher’s participation would certainly help raise the sport's profile further in what is already set to be a huge year for the women's game.

Notwithstanding visa and PWR eligibility issues, Maher's route to the USA World Cup squad will require her to get consistent 15s game time in the English top flight, a league which is by some distance the most competitive women's competition in rugby union.  In fact the USA already has a strong PWR presence with players like Kate Zackary and Rachel Johnson.

“I’ve been really interested in [the competition] and watching it grow," Maher told The Rugby Rundown Podcast recently. "What they’re trying to do this season… is to bring out the personalities of players.”

The 5'10, 90kg Maher - who is listed as a prop or centre in Sevens - certainly has the frame to play 15s at the highest level and is likely play as a wing or centre in the more established rugby union code.