Ilona Maher is set to make a big splash in the UK.
The most popular rugby player in the world, who boasts nearly eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, will join the Bristol Bears in January.
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US rugby star Maher is taking on a new challenge in the UKCredit: Getty
She is swapping rugby sevens for 15s, having won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics with the United States over the summer.
Now, Maher has signed a three-month contract with the Bears, and will play Premiership Women’s Rugby ahead of the World Cup, with the ultimate goal of representing her country in that tournament too.
And it won’t just be the USA Eagles star arriving at Bristol in January.
The Bears are also employing a social media manager, who will be tasked with ‘telling the story of the women’s team during an exciting second half of the season’.
With millions of followers in tow, Maher could help not only the Bears, but the entire league, reach a whole new audience.
And according to England and Harlequins star Ellie Kildunne, Bristol’s decision to boost their own social media presence as the most popular player in the world arrives can only be seen as a good thing.
“It’s not just on one player. I hope what Bristol are doing will open up the eyes of other teams as well,” Kildunne, who won World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Player of the Year award last month, told talkSPORT’s Andrew McKenna.
“We need to be accessible to everybody, what better way to do it than through social media? It’s very important for teams to invest.
“That’s the thing that people see. That’s what kids are on before they go to bed. That’s the way you market the game now.
“Ilona is a very big character and she has a huge social media following, but there are a lot of other girls who have that same opportunity, they just need a bit of help with it.
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Maher is the most popular rugby player on the planetCredit: Getty
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Kildunne believes Maher’s following will be good for the leagueCredit: Getty
“You can’t hold a phone when you’re on the pitch, you can’t create social media content, because you have a rugby ball in your hands. I think this is a step in the right direction.”
While Maher boasts more followers than any other rugby player on the planet, she remains grounded about what she has achieved on the field to date.
“I’m amazing at rugby, but realistically I’m maybe not the best at it, which is fine,” Maher said ahead of her move to Bristol.
“There are so many great athletes like Portia Woodman (a two-time Olympic gold winner with New Zealand) and Maddi Levi (World Sevens Player of the Year).
“But I have something else I can bring, which is personality.”
It’s her personality that the Bears, and the rest of the league, will want to tap into ahead of the World Cup.
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Bristol Bears are hiring a social media manager for Maher’s arrivalCredit: Getty
And with England hosting the tournament in 2025, there’s no telling just how far ‘Maher Mania’ will go.
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