Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
PWR

When will Ilona Maher make her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut?

U.S. Olympian Ilona Maher poses for a photo at the USA House at Paris 2024 on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)

Ilona Maher could make her Premiership Women’s Rugby against Gloucester-Hartpury on January 4, although Bristol Bears head coach Dave Ward insisted it would be “stupid” to rush her into action.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maher has completed a short-term move to the Bears as she attempts to win a place in USA’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 squad.

The sevens star, the most-followed rugby player on social media, met her new team-mates for the first time on Monday and will spend the week in Bristol before watching Bears in action against Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Video Spacer

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:00
Loaded: 16.67%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    ‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    Following the match, Maher will head home to America armed with a fitness programme designed by her new club.

    Ward and his coaching staff will evaluate her on her return to Bristol at the beginning of January before deciding whether to include her in the squad for the West Country derby.

    “She’ll be back [in Bristol] literally, I think either New Year’s Day or the second. We’ve then got to assess where she is,” Ward said on Tuesday.

    Fixture
    PWR
    Bristol Bears Women
    17 - 40
    Full-time
    Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC
    All Stats and Data

    “We’ll train Thursday and Friday and then we’ve got Gloucester on the Sunday. If everything goes perfectly, she could be involved in that Gloucester game.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “But it has to be perfect. I want to make no bones about it, it has to be really perfect.

    “If not, we’ll have another look at her and then obviously we’ve got Exeter the following Sunday or even Leicester the following Saturday after that.

    “The one thing we’d be stupid to do is rush her back in when she’s not ready.”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by RugbyPass (@rugbypass)


    Following this weekend’s encounter with league-leading Exeter, Bristol host Sale Sharks at Shaftesbury Park on December 15 before travelling to StoneX Stadium to take on Saracens the following Saturday.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Should Maher not be deemed ready to be included in the squad to play Gloucester-Hartpury, then her maiden appearance could come against Exeter at Sandy Park on January 12 or Leicester Tigers at Shaftesbury Park six days later.

    News of Maher’s arrival has already given Bears a boost on social media, with the number of followers of the club’s official Instagram page roughly doubling to almost 43,000 within hours of the announcement.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

    New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

    Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

    The Rise of Kenya | The Report

    New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

    The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    1 Comment
    C
    CN 121 days ago

    I haven't seen much of her, is she really that good?

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    J
    JW 3 hours ago
    Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

    I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.


    I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.


    I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.


    But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).

    16 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING 'He understands the Tigers DNA': Ex-CEO Simon Cohen's pick for head coach Ex-Leicester Tigers CEO points out obvious choice for next head coach
    Search