USA Rugby Star Ilona Maher Signs Contract with England's Bristol Bears After DWTS
Dec 3, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - September 15, 2024 - Ilona Maher arriving at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, September 15, 2024 (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After her runner-up finish on Dancing With The Stars, Team USA rugby star Ilona Maher is getting back to doing what she does best.
Per Colin Millar of The Athletic, Maher is joining the Bristol Bears of Premiership Women's Rugby on a three-month contract. The 28-year-old reportedly will be registered to play for the Bears in January through the remaining three months of the season, and she completed her move to Bristol this week.
Maher, who helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics this past summer, will be playing full XVs rugby for the first time since 2021 after spending the last three years exclusively playing the sevens code. She is hoping to help lead the Bears to a spot in next year's Women's Rugby World Cup, which will be played in England.
"I am excited to join the Bristol Bears and put myself in the best position to earn a spot to represent USA in the 2025 Rugby World Cup alongside such a talented and driven group as the Bears," Maher said.
Bears head coach Dave Ward told Millar that the arrival of Maher is a "huge coup" and she will "add real value to our program on and off the field." Bristol is currently ranked fourth in the English top flight with five wins in seven league games this season.
Maher is the most-followed rugby player, male or female, in the world with over eight million followers across her social media platforms.
Six Nations 2015: Live Stream Info and Predictions for Round 5 Fixtures
Mar 21, 2015
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: George Ford of England celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's second try of the game during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 14, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
England, Ireland and Wales are locked on six points at the top of the Six Nations standings heading into the final weekend, giving all three nations a realistic chance at sampling glory.
It’s England who are the slight favourites heading into this one, boasting a superior points difference to the aforementioned duo.
But Stuart Lancaster and his men face arguably the toughest fixture of the three sides involved in the race for the title, as they go up against France at Twickenham.
Ireland are second in the table and will face Scotland, while Wales—who look big outsiders to triumph—will face Italy.
Below we provide all the information you need on where to catch these clashes via an online stream, as well as who looks likely to come out on top in the championship race.
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 14: Ireland player Jamie Heaslip gets to grips with Alun Wyn Jones of Wales during the RBS Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland at Millennium Stadium on March 14, 2015 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Wales have rallied with distinction in this tournament following an opening-day defeat against England, with their win over Ireland last time out thrusting them back into contention for the title.
But despite winning three in succession ahead of this clash at the Stadio Olimpico, they remain big underdogs to lift the trophy heading into the final weekend. While they should have enough to overhaul an improving Italy team, they need to win by a big margin to put the pressure on both Ireland and England.
Here’s the team Warren Gatland has picked to get the job done for the Welsh:
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 17, 2015
Italy will represent stern opposition, and in Sergio Parisse, they boast one of the finest players in the world, but they won’t have enough to get the better of this Wales team. They are a diligent and determined outfit, though, meaning the landslide victory which the Welsh need looks beyond their reach in this fixture.
Scotland vs. Ireland
DUBLIN, IRELAND - MARCH 01: Robbie Henshaw (R) celebrates with team mate Jared Payne after scoring the only try of the match during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on March 1, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo b
Ireland will have been desperately disappointed to lose to Wales at the Millennium Stadium last time out in a ferocious encounter, but this clash against Scotland is ideal for them to put pressure on England.
In terms of points difference, they’re four down on the leaders and will fancy their chances of putting a dent in that when going up against a side destined for the wooden spoon.
As noted by Mark Pougatch of BBC, the Irish players put Wales under enormous pressure in that previous defeat but were thwarted by a staunch defensive line:
A quite astonishing passage of play as Wales defend with discipline, organisation and heart after about 40 phases of play as Ireland attack
If they can replicate those kinds of levels against the Scots, then points will flow much more freely. But with confidence potentially rocked and a raucous Murrayfield crowd set to be backing the home side, it could be a tougher afternoon than many expect for Joe Schmidt and his players.
Indeed, Scotland were valiant in defeat against England at Twickenham last time out, showing that they have a clutch of offensive players capable of causing big problems for any defence. However, the Irish look a class apart coming into this one, and that will tell over the course of 80 minutes with the visitors securing a comfortable victory.
England vs. France
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Jack Nowell of England dives over to score his team's third try of the game during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 14, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffith
Playing the last match of the tournament means England have the big advantage of knowing what’s needed when they stride out at Twickenham for their clash with France. They should have enough to get the better of Les Bleus, but as if often the case with the men from across the Channel, you never quite know what to expect.
Lancaster’s men were made to work very hard in their match against Scotland, but the win ensured they have a chance of landing this title for the first time in four years. Captain Chris Robshaw insists it’s imperative they do, per BBC Sport:
As a player, you want to be picking up silverware.
Unfortunately, the last two or three times it has eluded us, so of course it's hugely important for this group of guys to win something.
To come so close for three years now has been pretty tough for myself and the other guys involved, so hopefully to be able to pick up a bit of silverware come Saturday will be great.
BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Chris Robshaw looks on during the England training session at Pennyhill Park on March 17, 2015 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Remarkably, France can actually still win this competition themselves. But they’d need to defeat England by an eight-point margin and hope both Ireland and Wales suffer shock losses. Even if the other two teams do fall to defeat, such are the underwhelming efforts of this French team so far in this competition, it’d be difficult to see them sampling a win at Twickenham.
England have enough to win the match, but it’ll be intriguing to see just what margin they need if they’re to be crowned this year’s champions.
With Wales and Ireland both likely to face difficult challenges away from home, not to mention the luxury of playing last, expect Robshaw’s men to get the job done.
