BRISTOL, England — (AP) — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher is set to make her first start for the Bristol Bears on Sunday at the Exeter Chiefs.
The 28-year-old Maher, who helped lead the U.S. to the bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Games, was named as a winger in the starting lineup announced Friday ahead of her second Premiership Women’s Rugby match in England.
Last Sunday, Maher entered as a replacement an hour into Bristol’s 40-17 loss to defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury.
The arrival of Maher, the most followed rugby player on social media, has boosted ticket sales. Her debut game drew 9,240 fans to Ashton Gate, a Bristol women’s team home record.
Exeter didn’t release figures but said that Sunday’s game at Sandy Park will feature ” our biggest home crowd this season.”
Maher has more than 8 million followers combined on Instagram and TikTok. She also was a runner-up on the “Dancing With The Stars” TV show.
The Vermont native is …