The agreement is now official and finalized. Ilona Maher will be joining the Premiership Women’s Rugby, proudly donning the colors of Bristol Bears. The club went the extra mile to ensure that the Olympic medalist could compete in England. This signing is a significant milestone for the PWR, but Maher acknowledges that being the most recognized name in rugby can also bring added pressure on the field.

Maher gained widespread fame during the Tokyo Olympics and the recent Paris Games, where she was part of the first US team to win a medal in Sevens, defeating Australia in the bronze medal final. Her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, where she finished second with partner Alan Bersten, further boosted her social media following, now totaling 4.6 million on Instagram and 3.3 million on TikTok. The 28-year-old consulted a sports psychiatrist throughout the Olympics and plans to continue this practice when she relocates to Bristol next year.

"When I was preparing for the Olympics, I thought: 'Maybe I can replicate what I did in Tokyo and achieve something similar,'" she tells The Guardian. "I knew I could do it, but the scale of it was really impressive." She adds, "It was then quite daunting. Now, with three million people watching me, and millions more tuning in to see me play rugby, what if I make a mistake? What if I drop the ball or miss a tackle and look foolish? It was crucial for me not to get overwhelmed by that. That’s why I worked with our sports psychologist every night to practice mindfulness and stay focused because I was anxious."

Maher emphasizes that she doesn’t want people to think she’s not serious about her sport just because she’s active on social media. "As a female athlete, I’d love to just concentrate on what I do on the field, but if I want to live comfortably and earn a decent income, I have to do more. Sometimes, as women, we have to do more. I wasn’t willing to give up something that could be so financially rewarding, so I wanted to ensure I could balance both." She also mentions that she might continue to connect with a sports psychologist because she anticipates expectations from her in her new role.

Maher has already met her Bristol teammates but will return to the US before Christmas. She plans to come back to the south-west of England in the new year, with her first game potentially against local rivals Gloucester-Hartpury on January 4th. This signing almost didn’t happen. She reached out to several clubs at the end of 2023, aiming to play in the English top-flight. Initially, she planned to join a club after the 2024 Olympics, but since she hadn’t played 15s rugby since 2021, she wasn’t eligible. However, during her time on Dancing with the Stars, Bristol contacted her and promised to secure a visa for her to play, which included a successful appeals process supported by the Rugby Football Union.

Reports of her potential move to an English club sparked interest from other teams, but Maher remained committed to Bristol. "Suddenly, I started receiving calls and emails from other clubs asking if I wanted to play for them. While I did consider other options, I chose Bristol because they worked hard to make this possible, and I wanted to honor that commitment," she says.

Maher has discussed her position with Bristol’s head coach, Dave Ward, and expressed a desire to try playing in the forwards. "I think I’ll see time on the wing and possibly at center," she says. "We’ve also talked about trying out the forwards and seeing if there’s an opportunity to play at number eight or flanker. I’ve never been lifted before because in sevens, I’m usually the biggest player, so this is a great chance to learn new skills that aren’t available in sevens."

One of the main reasons Maher wanted to return to 15s rugby is the 2025 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in England. The US has qualified and is grouped with England, Australia, and Samoa. Maher, who attended the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand, says, "I want to put myself in the best position to hopefully be selected for the World Cup." She adds, "I really admire what the PWR is doing, and I love their branding. I’ve been with the USA sevens for six years, so I wanted to try something different, live somewhere new, and meet new people. It feels like the first day of school; I’m nervous because I don’t know everyone yet. It’s a bit stressful and outside my comfort zone, but I love challenging myself this way."

Her contract with Bristol runs until the end of the season, culminating in the final on March 16th, but this stint in 15s rugby might not be her last before returning to sevens. "I think it’s about seeing how things go right now. Who knows what opportunities might arise?" she says. "I’d love to go back to sevens, especially with the home Olympics in 2028. That’s the plan, but I’ve been doing sevens for six years straight since college, so I want to explore other options and build something new."

Premiership Women’s Rugby will undoubtedly hope Maher stays beyond this season. Her signing is a landmark moment and one of the most astute acquisitions in the sport’s history.

Source link:   https://www.theguardian.com