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When will Ilona Maher make her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut?

U.S. Olympian Ilona Maher poses for a photo at the USA House at Paris 2024 on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)

Ilona Maher could make her Premiership Women’s Rugby against Gloucester-Hartpury on January 4, although Bristol Bears head coach Dave Ward insisted it would be “stupid” to rush her into action.

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Maher has completed a short-term move to the Bears as she attempts to win a place in USA’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 squad.

The sevens star, the most-followed rugby player on social media, met her new team-mates for the first time on Monday and will spend the week in Bristol before watching Bears in action against Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Following the match, Maher will head home to America armed with a fitness programme designed by her new club.

Ward and his coaching staff will evaluate her on her return to Bristol at the beginning of January before deciding whether to include her in the squad for the West Country derby.

“She’ll be back [in Bristol] literally, I think either New Year’s Day or the second. We’ve then got to assess where she is,” Ward said on Tuesday.

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“We’ll train Thursday and Friday and then we’ve got Gloucester on the Sunday. If everything goes perfectly, she could be involved in that Gloucester game.

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“But it has to be perfect. I want to make no bones about it, it has to be really perfect.

“If not, we’ll have another look at her and then obviously we’ve got Exeter the following Sunday or even Leicester the following Saturday after that.

“The one thing we’d be stupid to do is rush her back in when she’s not ready.”

 

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Following this weekend’s encounter with league-leading Exeter, Bristol host Sale Sharks at Shaftesbury Park on December 15 before travelling to StoneX Stadium to take on Saracens the following Saturday.

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Should Maher not be deemed ready to be included in the squad to play Gloucester-Hartpury, then her maiden appearance could come against Exeter at Sandy Park on January 12 or Leicester Tigers at Shaftesbury Park six days later.

News of Maher’s arrival has already given Bears a boost on social media, with the number of followers of the club’s official Instagram page roughly doubling to almost 43,000 within hours of the announcement.

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1 Comment
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CN 127 days ago

I haven't seen much of her, is she really that good?

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MelodyKaitlyn3 1 hour ago
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Mzilikazi 2 hours ago
Matt Faessler: ‘To be involved in a home World Cup would be just next level’

Thanks for the article, Brett. I must say I am disappointed that the Reds have lost both games against the two top teams from NZ they have played so far this year. I feel they should be more advanced under Les Kiss and his coaching team in what is now the second year of tenure.


The lineout, which you highlight in the article, is an obvious standout. Matt Faessler is shaping as a standout finisher of mauls, but that ability is wasted if the throw/lift/catch element is a shambles.


Also very disappointing so often is the ability to spread the ball wide using the “out the back” type passes well. Just watch Scotland, even currently weak Wales, to see the level of sophistication in this area that can be achieved.


In the final analysis, the breakdown work is not as good as all the NZ sides achieve with apparent ease. Their scrum halves so often have an “armchair ride” compared to our 9’s, who deal with slow and often scrappy ball. And I would say this applies to all our Australian sides, not only the Reds.


Not being one eyed on Qld, I am also disappointed to see the Waratahs not performing as one would have hoped, given the strength of their roster now. Ofc, one must also look at the injury toll effect on all teams.


And there is no question, on the positive side of this years competition, how very competitive all teams can be on their day. Mona Pacifica are looking more than just competitive now, but the Highlanders are are much better team than last year, as are the Force.


I find the background bits on players great reading always. and your recounting of Matt Faessler’s grandfather’s exploits is just up my street. Keep writing for us, please !!

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