Ilona Maher ‘loves being a superstar’ as Bristol signing looks to grow the game

With more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, 28-year-old American back Maher is the world’s most followed rugby player on social media.

Ilona Maher has already made a mark on Premiership Women’s Rugby. Picture: Adam Davy/PA

Ilona Maher hopes she can inspire and elevate more players to superstar status in women’s rugby.

Olympic sevens bronze medallist Maher announced her arrival in English rugby by helping Bristol Bears generate a club-record crowd for a women’s game of just over 9,000 at Ashton Gate.