Ilona Maher’s debut for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Women’s Rugby was an event that drew a record crowd and garnered significant attention from fans worldwide. The match against Gloucester-Hartpury, held at Ashton Gate, saw the attendance soar to 9,240, a record-breaking figure for a standalone regular-season match in the competition. Maher’s signing, announced in December, was the catalyst for this surge in support, and the fixture was moved to the larger venue to accommodate the increased demand for tickets.
The buzz surrounding Maher was palpable long before the match kicked off. Fans arrived early, eager to catch a glimpse of the US sevens star, who had become a viral sensation. Among the crowd were individuals who had traveled long distances, including a group from Macclesfield RUFC, who drove over 120 miles to see her play. Tally Bevis, a fan from Nashville, Tennessee, was also in attendance. Bevis, who is studying in the UK, had followed Maher’s journey since the Paris Olympics and was excited to see the player in action. Wearing a new Maher Bristol shirt, she expressed her admiration for Maher’s commitment to improving her skills despite already being an Olympic medallist.
The excitement only grew when Maher emerged for the warm-up. A wave of cheers rippled through the crowd as she ran across the pitch, and when the teams were announced, the loudest cheer was undoubtedly for Maher. Fireworks lit up the stadium as the teams took to the field, but Maher remained on the bench at the start of the match. It wasn’t until the 61st minute that she finally entered the game, and her arrival was met with a deafening roar from the fans. Her first action on the pitch was a powerful hit on Gloucester’s Rachel Lund, though Maher did not receive a pass during her brief time on the field.
Despite Maher’s presence, Bristol faced a tough challenge from Gloucester. The match began with a flurry of action, as both teams exchanged early tries. Gloucester’s Emma Sing opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort, but Bristol quickly responded through Millie David, the league’s top try scorer. Gloucester’s Lleucu George was shown a yellow card, and Bristol capitalized on the numerical advantage with a try from Alisha Joyce-Butchers, giving them a 10-7 lead at halftime.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Gloucester capitalized on Bristol’s mistakes. Co-captain Mo Hunt scored a crucial try, and the visitors stretched their lead with further tries from Maud Muir, Rachel Lund, Mia Venner, and Georgia Brock. Bristol managed a consolation try from Sarah Bern, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Gloucester from securing a bonus-point win. The victory propelled Gloucester to second place in the table, while Bristol remained in fifth, with the top-four battle intensifying as the season heads toward its conclusion.
After the match, Maher took the time to interact with fans, signing autographs and reflecting on her debut. She admitted that the transition from sevens to 15s rugby was challenging, but she was eager to learn and improve with each game. Despite the defeat, Maher’s presence on the pitch and her impact off it were undeniable, and her future in the Premiership Women’s Rugby looks bright.
