By Hannah Blackwell
For once, Jaz Joyce-Butchers had to stand aside and take second billing when Ilona Maher made her Bristol Bears debut at the weekend.
Wales star Joyce-Butchers is used to seizing the limelight for club and country but she was forced to stand in the shadows when U.S. Olympic bronze medallist Maher made her debut in the Premiership Women’s Rugby clash at home to Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday.
Maher – a social media sensation around the world and TV star in her homeland – contributed to a record crowd of 9,240 in attendance at Ashton Gate stadium.
Maher is arguably the world’s most popular rugby player – male or female – and boasts the largest social media following of anyone in the sport, according to governing body World Rugby.
Here comes @ilona_maher!
There’s a huge cheer at Ashton Gate as the global star makes her debut for Bristol Bears ✨#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/3a6PkiiHdT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 5, 2025
She was signed by Bristol in December on a three-month deal.
Her popularity soared during the Paris Olympics, where she helped the U.S. to bronze in rugby sevens.
Following the Games, she was featured in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue and also finished runner-up on the U.S. television show “Dancing With the Stars”.
Sunday’s crowd was a club and competition record for a standalone game, with Maher starting from the bench before being brought on in the 61st minute of the defeat to the league’s defending champions, who included Wales outside-half Lleucu George.
Maher, 28, signed for the Bears as she switched back to XVs from sevens in a massive coup for the West country club.
Here @ilona_maher is on for her @BristolBearsW debut #PWR | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/JOHpIgUoSQ
— Premiership Women’s Rugby (@ThePWR) January 5, 2025
However, the defeat leaves Bristol six points off the top four, while Gloucester-Hartpury sit just behind leaders Harlequins.
“I was definitely very nervous,’ Maher said.
“But I wanted to make my team-mates proud and show I deserved to be out there. Once I did get on the field I felt like, okay, this is rugby, it is something I have been doing for the last 10 years, it’s in my blood.
“I think each game I am going to learn more and more. You do learn a lot by losing but also it puts a fire under you for the next game,” the 28-year-old said after the match.
“It is interesting, it is very different from sevens. Sevens is a very quick little battle. Sevens is a battle and 15s is a war, it carries on in so many moments.
“The ball goes this way, we end the half up and then it shifts the other way. I think it was tough out there.
“I was just trying to watch and understand; Ren [Reneeqa Bonner], Millie [David] are doing this, what do I need to do when I get in? I think each game I am going to learn more and more. You do learn a lot by losing but also it puts a fire under you for the next game.”
“I was just trying to promote the game as much as possible.
“To get 9,240 people out there, that’s so cool. You are seeing that the level of women’s rugby is getting better and better each year.
“It is really important for me to connect with them. They are not just the next generation of rugby players, but the next generation of fans.
“What’s cool was that there were a lot of women out there. Women have power, women have influence and they are a good fanbase to have.”
