Ilona Maher, an Olympic rugby player, made an impressive debut for the Bristol Bears this Sunday, attracting a record crowd to the event.
A staggering 9,420 spectators gathered to see Maher make her first appearance in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league against the reigning champions, Gloucester-Hartpury. Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets, the Bears had to move the game to a larger venue. This attendance smashed the team’s previous record of 4,101 spectators set in May 2022, effectively more than doubling the previous high.
Despite a 40–17 defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury, Maher remained on the field for over an hour post-match, signing autographs and interacting with fans.
U.S. rugby star @ilona_maher made her debut for the Bristol Bears women’s team in front of a record home crowd of 9,240 fans on Sunday
The previous attendance record for a Bristol women’s home match was 4,101 against Harlequins in May 2022. pic.twitter.com/Wv0c9F4Jrc
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) January 6, 2025
Expectations for high attendance were set following Maher’s standout year in 2024. She gained significant popularity during the Paris Olympics, sharing her experiences on social media. Additionally, Team USA secured a bronze medal, marking the first Olympic rugby medal in the country’s history. Maher then expanded her following by participating in Dancing With the Stars, which concluded in November.
Maher has joined the Bears on a three-month contract. It will be intriguing to see if fan attendance remains high at her upcoming games and if further records will be shattered.
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