Ilona Maher in line for Bristol Bears debut as 8,000 fans expected at Ashton Gate for Premiership Women’s Rugby

Ilona Maher is in line to make her Bristol Bears debut off the bench on Sunday as 8,000 fans are expected at Ashton Gate for their Premiership Women’s Rugby clash vs Gloucester-Hartpury.

The American rugby sevens star signed for Bristol on a landmark three-month contract and boasts 3.3 million followers on TikTok and 4.6 million on Instagram.

The 28-year-old shot to fame during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when she posted videos on social media from within the COVID-impacted Olympic village, and again proved a major figure at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the USA won Sevens bronze.

On Sunday, Maher will appear in a Bristol jersey for the first time having been named in the No 23 spot among the replacements as PWR’s defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury visit.

“With a crowd of nearly 8,000 expected at Ashton Gate on Sunday, it’s a hugely exciting occasion and we’re hoping to give them something to cheer about,” Bristol head coach Dave Ward said.

“We understand the importance of the game in the context of our season, and the quality of the reigning champions, but we head into the game with confidence and relishing the occasion and the challenge.”

World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin has said he is convinced TikTok sensation Maher is just what the sport needs as momentum builds towards this summer’s World Cup in England.

Gilpin said: “We know these brilliant young women are coming into the game with compelling personal stories, with really powerful personalities, seeing the game as a great platform to build their own brands as Ilona has.

“Actually, it’s a great example for the men’s game and I think that’s what we need in rugby.

“We know there’s that shift in fandom to fans following individual players in the women’s game, and certainly the platform we are going to give them in the Women’s World Cup is the gateway to that.

“So we’re really excited about what Ilona and so many other brilliant women will bring next year.”

Maher followed her Olympic sevens bronze with an appearance on America’s Strictly Come Dancing equivalent, Dancing with the Stars, where she was a finalist.

Gilpin added: “Ilona is unique in so many ways because she is a trailblazer in the women’s game, but there are a whole host of brilliant women that are going to play in this tournament next year.

“Ilona has given permission to everybody to go and be themselves.”

Bristol Bears team to face Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate on Sunday (12.45pm KO): 

Bristol Bears: 15⁠ ⁠Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 14⁠ ⁠Reneeqa Bonner, 13⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight, 12⁠ ⁠Phoebe Murray, 11⁠ ⁠Millie David, 10⁠ ⁠Holly Aitchison (vc), 9⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis; 1⁠ ⁠Hannah Botterman, 2⁠ ⁠Lark Atkin-Davies, 3⁠ ⁠Sarah Bern, 4⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5⁠ ⁠Abbie Ward (c), 6⁠ ⁠Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7⁠ ⁠Evie Gallagher, 8⁠ ⁠Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.

Replacements: 16⁠ ⁠Jess Sprague, 17⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 18⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 19⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 20⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21⁠ ⁠Tilly Ryall, 22⁠ ⁠Meg Varley, 23⁠ ⁠Ilona Maher.

Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.