Ilona Maher impact already smashing records for Bristol Bears as tickets selling fast to watch USA star
Bristol Bears star Ilona Maher gives thumbs up to crowd.
Ilona Maher is already creating a buzz at her new rugby home in England after club outfit Bristol Bears revealed that a record-breaking crowd are set to watch her debut.
The game will see the Bears tackle West Country rivals Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate on January 5 and the club have already beaten their previous highest attendance.
The fixture was moved from Shaftesbury Park earlier this month due to unprecedented demand to watch the repeat of last season’s Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) final.
Topping previous tally
It is quite a remarkable achievement with the match over three weeks away, but such is the clamour to see the USA superstar make her Bears bow that tickets are selling fast.
Ticket sales have already surpassed the previous record attendance for a Bears Women fixture at Ashton Gate – 4,101 against Harlequins in May 2022 – the club has revealed.
It is a significant boost not only to Bristol Bears but Premiership Women’s Rugby and also the sport of rugby union in general, as Maher is making a splash in the game.
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Since the major signing was announced, Maher has been featuring on TV and was a pundit for Premier Sports during their coverage of Bristol Bears v Leinster on Sunday.
At the Investec Champions Cup clash she met with excited supporters and looks to be an immediate hit at the club who are now reaping the rewards of their recent arrival.
Maher rose to popularity on social media during the Olympic Games where she would go on to claim bronze with the United States of America. The success at the global showpiece only catalysed her popularity further and she is now the most followed rugby page in the world with a mind-boggling 4.6 million followers on Instagram.
Short-term contract
The impact of the Olympics was not just felt in her social media presence but also saw Maher on the cover of Sports Illustrated before taking part in Dancing with the Stars.
She has inked a short-term deal with Bristol and hopes her performances will secure a place in the USA’s squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, which takes place in England.
