"She was great when she came to Bristol,” England lock Abbie Ward recalls of her former teammate. “She brought loads of energy. She has a lot of experience in the sevens and she'll take that into the 15s.

Maher is the most-followed rugby player in the world and almost transcends the sport. The former Bristol Bears star has more than 1.6million followers on TikTok and boasts nearly nine million when you add in her Instagram and X channels. Previously a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in the US, Maher is well-known away from the rugby field too.

The rugby star has frequently ventured off the pitch and has appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" and in "SI Swimsuit"

USA rugby star Ilona Maher takes on ESPN's "You Have To Answer."

Olympic Medalist Ilona Maher, 29, Stuns in Slinky Black Dress: ‘I Just Keep Getting Hotter’ originally appeared on Parade. Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher —best known for her breakout role in the Paris 2024 Games and her stunning Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover—is celebrating her 29th birthday with confidence, gratitude, and body positivity.

If you are among Ilona Maher’s 5.2 million Instagram followers, you will probably have noticed an English voice featuring in several of her videos over the past few months. That voice belongs to Georgie Perris-Redding,

Watch as USA star Ilona Maher reflects on her sides defeat to England in the opening game of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.