Ilona Maher celebrated her first start for Bristol by powering over for a try as part of an impressive display in the 41-31 win against Exeter at Sandy Park.
Maher, the game’s most popular player on social media with more than eight million followers, ran over half the pitch and made two tackles in a 55th-minute effort powered by her pace and power.
The United States sevens star also showed her worth as a provider when she came off the wing to suck out three defenders before unleashing Meg Varley to score the bonus-point try that keeps Bristol in contention for the play-offs Premiership Women’s Rugby.
“It felt like seven a little bit. My teammates did the work to set me up and I had to go past some defenders. I thought ‘oh, that’s seven!'” Maher told TNT Sports.
“I don’t hang out with people, that’s never been my thing – never! I don’t go around them, I always walk past. It really doesn’t come naturally to me.
“Now I’ve got to figure out when I’ve got three people in front of me, how do I get past them? I was more proud of the try assist. I took a little step there, which I’ve never done before.”
Social media sensation Ilona Maher joins Bristol to win Rugby Sevens bronze for USA at Paris Olympics
Maher won a bronze medal at last summer’s Paris Olympics and has her sights set on earning a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in the World Cup, which England will host later this year.
A week ago she made her first under-15 appearance since 2021 when she came off the bench in a 40-17 defeat by Gloucester-Hartpury.
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