Ilona Maher announced in Bristol Bears starting team for Premiership Women's Rugby clash vs Exeter Chiefs

USA rugby star Ilona Maher is set to make her first start for the Bristol Bears on Sunday at the Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Women's Rugby.

The 28-year-old, who helped lead the USA to a bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics, will start on the wing vs Exeter on Sunday having made her debut as a replacement an hour into Bristol's 40-17 loss to defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury last week.

The arrival of Maher, the most followed rugby player on social media, has boosted ticket sales, with her debut drawing 9,240 fans to Ashton Gate - a record league attendance.

Exeter didn't release figures but said Sunday's game at Sandy Park will feature "our biggest home crowd this season."

Maher has more than eight million followers combined on Instagram and TikTok. She also was a runner-up on Dancing With The Stars - the American equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Vermont-native is returning to the 15-a-side game in hopes of boosting her chances of making the USA squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

Last Sunday's game was her first 15s appearance since 2021.

The USA's opening World Cup game is against tournament favourites England in Sunderland on August 22.

Maher's three-month Bristol contract began in a repeat of last season's Premiership final, and she emerged after 60 minutes with her team 18 points adrift following a Gloucester scoring burst of three tries in eight minutes that secured a bonus-point.

Maher had already made a significant impact, underpinning a considerable increase in replica shirt sales, while Bristol's Instagram following has risen from 21,000 to 67,000 since her signing was announced.

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