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.

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.

Ilona Maher says that rugby union has to shift culture and mindset if it is going to evolve as a sport. With more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, 28-year-old American international back Maher is the world’s most followed rugby player on social media.

The American Olympic medallist, who is the world’s most followed rugby player, believes her stoic but ‘amazing’ sport needs more personalities.

Rugby player Ilona Maher has won fans and admirers with her sporting talent. But it's her message of body positivity that's attracted millions of followers on social media. The US-born athlete, 28, regularly jumps on TikTok and Instagram to talk about body positivity and being a high-profile woman in sport.

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher has celebrated her first start for the Bristol Bears by powering over for a try in a 41-31 victory at the 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.

Asked if she felt tired after spending over an hour posing for pictures with hundreds of fans, Ilona Maher channels Taylor Swift with her answer. “I do get tired a lot but, as Taylor Swift said, ‘I get tired a lot but I don’t get tired of it’.

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

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

Maher is the most followed rugby player in the world on social media, with more than eight million Friday 10 January 2025 18:22, UK Image: TikTok sensation Ilona Maher will make her first start ...

She has been England’s Miss Consistency for the past few seasons but Zoe Aldcroft faces the biggest mission of her career later this year – to lead the Red Roses to World Cup glory on home soil.