Olympian and Dancing with the Stars contestant Ilona Maher moved to England to join the Bristol Bears but her home debut ended with an injury.

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher is set to make her first start for the Bristol Bears on January 12 at the Exeter Chiefs.

Ilona Maher marked her first Premiership Women’s Rugby start with a try as Bristol boosted their hopes of reaching the play-offs with a gutsy win over regional rivals Exeter Chiefs.

Ilona Maher’s impact on women’s rugby in England had been significant even before she had stepped on a rugby pitch in the country. On Sunday came the American’s time to make a telling contribution on the field of play as she scored a sensational 70-yard try in her first start for her new team.

Ilona Maher celebrated her first start for Bristol by powering over for a try as part of an impactful display in a 41-31 victory against Exeter at Sandy Park. Maher, the game’s most popular ...

Ilona Maher is making her impact across the pond! The Olympic rugby bronze medalist made her debut on the pitch in England on Sunday, Jan. 5 — and it resulted in the Bristol Bears having to change stadiums to accommodate her fans.

In addition to losing winger Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso, flanker Sam Underhill and full-back George Furbank to injury, he has also lost British & Irish Lions winger Antony Watson, who, despite not being picked for the initial squad, loomed as a potential inclusion as injuries have continued to pile up.

Olympian Ilona Maher is nursing a brutal injury following a violent collision in a recent Bristol Bears rugby match. Maher, 28, shared an update via Instagram on Saturday, January 18, writing, "When people keep asking me if I'm OK but I just broke my nose.

The viral rugby star has eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, making her the most followed rugby union player globally. In conversation with Epigram, she spoke about her move to the local team.

The USA Eagles player is also not worried about a potential U.S. ban on TikTok, a platform she has amassed over three million followers on.

Social media sensation Ilona Maher says evolution in rugby can only be secured with a shift in culture; Maher has raised profile of womens game since joining Bristol Bears and believes same can be ach