Ilona Maher Signs Deal With Bristol Bears of PWR
12/3/2024 11:31:00 AM | Women's Rugby
Former Bobcat Helped Team USA Win Bronze Medal at 2024 Olympics
Maher is joining the Bristol Bears on a three-month deal that starts in January.
Maher recently represented Team USA in Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maher and the United States captured the team's first-ever medal in rugby sevens, defeating Australia 14-12 in the bronze medal matchup on Tuesday, July 30.
Maher made her international debut at the 2018 Paris Sevens tournament, then competed at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 on home soil in San Francisco and later the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held in 2021.
"The world will now get a chance to see even more of Ilona on the international stage which means we won't have to wait four years to watch her compete," said Quinnipiac Women's Rugby Head Coach Becky Carlson. "The Olympics gave everyone a sneak peek in 7s but Bristol 15s is a whole new ball game. Bristol just collected themselves a whole new fan base and the Bobcats are thrilled for Lo in her next endeavor."
The Burlington, Vermont-native helped lead the Bobcats to back-to-back-to-back NIRA national championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Bristol cited Maher as "the most followed rugby player in the world on social media," with 4.5 million followers on Instagram and another 3.2 million on TikTok. She recently competed on Dancing with the Stars, as Maher and teamed Alan Bersten finished in second place.
ABOUT BRISTOL BEARS
The Bristol Bears are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They compete in Premiership Women's Rugby, the top-flight division of women's rugby union in England.
Formed in 1984, Bristol Bears has a far lengthier history than most of its adversaries. They play matches in Shaftesbury Park and Ashton Gate — the latter of which holds 27,000 and hosts Bristol City FC contests, as well.
The Bears are one of six sides to have competed in every season of Premiership Women's Rugby since its inception in 2017-18. They've yet to capture a league title but finished as runner-ups to Gloucester last year, falling 36-24 in the championship final.
For more information on the Quinnipiac women's rugby program, follow the team on Instagram @QURugby or visit www.gobobcats.com/womens-rugby.
