Welcome to Women’s Rugby Rundown 183, a special edition on December 3, 2024. It’s time to set the record straight on Ilona Maher: She’s not just a 7s star—her rugby journey started in XVs. Stop the misinformation. Let’s break it down.
Ilona Maher is a force of nature. From her days as a collegiate rugby star at Quinnipiac University to dominating the global spotlight in sevens rugby, Maher’s journey has been marked by grit, reinvention, and an unrelenting drive to push boundaries. Her rugby career began at the age of 17 with the South Burlington School Rugby Football Club, encouraged by her father, a former Saint Michael’s College rugby player. After excelling in high school sports like field hockey, basketball, and softball, rugby became her passion.
Her collegiate career began at Norwich University, where she impressed on the pitch before transferring to Quinnipiac University. There, Maher helped turn the Bobcats into a collegiate powerhouse, leading the team to three NIRA championships. She played center and was named a three-time NIRA All-American, won the MA Sorensen Award in 2017 as the top collegiate women’s rugby player, and was the Most Outstanding Player at the NIRA Championships in 2018.
While at Quinnipiac, Maher also made her mark in sevens rugby, playing for Scion Rugby Academy and catching the attention of USA Rugby coaches Richie Walker and Emilie Bydwell. She debuted for the USA Rugby World Cup Sevens team in 2018, setting the stage for her rise to international stardom.
She first captured the world’s attention during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics—not just for her standout play on the rugby field, where she scored three tries, but for her breakout stardom on social media. Her behind-the-scenes TikToks and Instagram posts brought fans into the heart of the Olympic experience, showcasing her humor, charisma, and relatability, and earning her a devoted following.
In Paris 2024, Maher added a bronze medal to her growing list of accomplishments as she helped the USA Rugby Sevens team secure a podium finish—the country’s first Olympic rugby medal. It was a defining moment in her career, reflecting her resilience and skill on the world’s biggest stage. Not content to rest on her laurels, Maher swapped the pitch for the ballroom shortly after, competing on Dancing with the Stars. Her runner-up finish proved yet again that her talents extend far beyond rugby, captivating audiences with her energy, competitive spirit, and signature charm.
Now, Maher is pivoting to a new challenge: making her mark in the XVs game. Her signing with the Bristol Bears in the Premier Women’s Rugby (PWR) league signals a strategic move to gain the experience needed to represent the USA Eagles at the 2025 Rugby World Cup. While she has limited international XVs experience—just two caps with the Eagles in 2021—Maher’s foundation in the format was solidified at Quinnipiac.
However, there’s a glaring issue with Maher’s transition to the PWR: the lack of streaming for the majority of the league’s matches. For a league hosting some of the best talent in the world, including arguably the most high-profile rugby athlete globally in Maher, the limited accessibility feels like a missed opportunity. Fans around the world are eager to follow her progress and see her impact in XVs, but without consistent streaming, this critical chance to showcase her—and the league as a whole—risks being wasted. Visibility is vital for growing women’s rugby, and making stars like Maher accessible to audiences is a key part of that equation.
“My time at Quinnipiac was where I fell in love with rugby,” Maher said. “The physicality, the teamwork—it all clicked for me there. Coming back to XVs feels like returning to my roots, but now I’m ready to bring all the lessons from sevens and apply them on a bigger stage.”
The PWR, regarded as one of the world’s premier women’s rugby leagues, offers Maher the perfect environment to sharpen her skills and prepare for the rigors of the World Cup. Competing alongside and against some of the sport’s best players, she’s poised to expand her game in ways that could make her an indispensable part of the Eagles’ 2025 campaign.
Off the field, Maher remains a cultural icon. Her candid social media posts, where she advocates for body positivity and shares her journey as an elite athlete, resonate with millions. Whether she’s inspiring young athletes to pick up a rugby ball or challenging stereotypes about female athletes, Maher uses her platform to shine a spotlight on women’s rugby and amplify its reach.
As the 2025 Rugby World Cup approaches, Maher’s story will undoubtedly continue to inspire fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Her commitment to evolving as an XVs player and her passion for representing the Eagles set the stage for what could be the most exciting chapter in her career. With her sights set on Bristol, the PWR, and the World Cup, Ilona Maher is proving that her journey is only just beginning.