‘She did it, big time’: Ilona Maher’s road to becoming rugby’s biggest breakout star since Lomu

USA center was ‘the kid in the pink scrum cap’ then soared with a winning blend of speed, power and body positivity

BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH: Ilona Maher’s road to becoming rugby’s biggest breakout star since Lomu

One Saturday in September 2014, the women’s rugby team from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut travelled to Norwich, Vermont. On the home team, a powerful 18-year-old prop scored three tries in a convincing win.

Quinnipiac coach Becky Carlson turned to her assistant. “Oh man,” she remembered saying. “Who’s the kid in the pink scrum cap? I’d give my right arm to have her.