Ilona Maher debut draws record crowd but Bristol beaten by Gloucester-Hartpury
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Bristol 17-40 Gloucester-Hartpury: The champions showed their strength in a rematch of last season’s final in front of 9,240 fans at Ashton Gate. Social media sensation Ilona Maher’s eagerly-anticipated Bristol Bears debut ended in defeat as Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) champions Gloucester-Hartpury beat the Bears 40-17 at Ashton Gate.
![[A record crowd for a standalone PWR game watched on as Ilona Maher made her debut]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/05/14/newFile-6.jpg)
American back Maher has more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, making her the world’s most followed rugby player. Maher’s mere presence generated a Bristol record crowd of 9,240 for a women’s game - and league-highest for a standalone fixture - with the 28-year-old having a 20-minute introduction off the replacements’ bench.
![[England scrum half Natasha Hunt was outstanding in Gloucester-Hartpury’s win]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/05/14/newFile-7.jpg)
Maher won Olympic sevens bronze with the United States in Paris but she has not played 15s since 2021. She is hoping to reacquaint herself with the format in a bid to gain selection for the USA squad that will travel to the England-hosted World Cup later this year.
The USA’s opening World Cup game is against tournament favourites England in Sunderland on August 22. Her three-month Bristol contract began in a repeat of last season’s Premiership final, going on 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.
