Ilona Maher is set to make her Women’s Rugby World Cup debut when the US hosted England in the tournament opening match on Friday.
Maher was the world’s most followed and most in the world as he was promoted to Superstarm last summer, helping the US win a bronze medal at the Rugby Sevens at the Olympics in Paris.
She then turned her attention to 15 codes and the World Cup. Maher, 28, joined the English club Bristol Bears at the turn of the year, earning four tries in seven appearances. The demand to see her was so intense that the bear had to move his home game to a larger stadium.
The US, known as the Eagles, is off to a tough start at the World Cup. England is a tournament favorite and is about to lay early markers during the game that takes place at the Premier League Football Club home in Sunderland.
This summer’s tournament is expected to be the biggest ever. The 16 teams compete to lift the trophy at Twickenham in London on September 27th, and attendance records could be broken as the sport appears to invade the mainstream.
Maher’s actions on and off the pitch have seen her achieve a level of personal fame – she appeared in the US in season 33 of “Dance with the Stars” – and raised her sports profile.
Maher told ESPN he hopes to see full stadiums in the UK and excite people watching the excitement of rugby at home.
“People have to come and show that this is exciting and interesting to watch,” Maher said. “Our sporting events have to be something that drives people, and it’s fun to go.
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“I think what we’re seeing at this World Cup is going to bring more personality. I like to think about the number of people posting… That’s how kids connect with it. Our fanbase becomes young women, bringing in daughters, college girls and girls in their 20s and 30s.
“That’s our fanbase and they follow us on Tiktok and social media. If they can see us, they’re really excited to see us on the pitch too.”
Ten other players are scheduled to make the World Cup bow on Friday, but Maher, Kaia May Sagapol, Talia Brody and Emily Henrich are four debutants in the starting lineup.
US Team vs UK
America Eagles: Rogers, Treder, Sagapol, Brody, Jarrell Thackery, Zachary, Perris Redding, Johnson, Ortiz, Hawkins, Mattitoga, Kelter, Maher, Henrich, Sharp
exchange: Stathopoulos, Leatherman, Jacoby, Ehrecke, Tafuna, Bargell, Bitter, Ibarra
Information from the PA contributed to this report