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USA Eagles star Ilona Maher has signed a three-month contract with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears, the club has confirmed.
While the deal will see her play for Bristol from January, Maher has already landed in the UK this week to begin training, before she returns to the U.S. until the new year.
Maher, the most followed rugby player on the planet on social media, is expected to draw plenty of attention to the game ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The 28-year-old, who helped the United States win rugby sevens bronze at the Paris Olympics, hopes the move to Bristol will help cement her spot in the Eagles squad for next year’s tournament.
“I am excited to join the Bristol Bears and put myself in the best position to earn a spot to represent USA in the 2025 Rugby World Cup alongside such a talented and driven group as the Bears,” Maher said.
Bears head coach David Ward said the deal is a win for both parties.
“This is a huge coup to be able to bring Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears on a short-term deal. She is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will add real value to our programme on and off the field,” Ward said.
“Ilona is one of the standout stars in the sevens game and we can’t wait to see her play for Bears in XVs. Her ability ball in hand will give our attack a new dimension and her desire to star in the Rugby World Cup in England next summer is a huge driving force for her to achieve great things at Bears.
“Her profile as an athlete to inspire the next generation aligns exactly with ours as a club and we can only applaud the work she has and will do for the women’s game.”