Ilona Maher: Bristol coach predicts US rugby star will be devastating
Bristol Bears coach Dave Ward says English rugby is not ready to deal with the impact US star Ilona Maher will have on the pitch.
Maher won an Olympic rugby sevens bronze medal in Paris this summer, A three-month contract with the Bears begins in January.
The 28-year-old is a big figure on social media, with 4.5 million followers on Instagram and 3.2 million followers on TikTok, but Ward said what’s more important to him is what Maher will bring to his team. Come to a new dimension.
“When she plays No. 15, she’s going to shock people,” Ward said.
“I think she’s going to be devastating. She has the same pace as (England and Ealing Trailblazers wing) Abby Dow, the same size as (England and Bristol second row) Abby Ward, One more step.
“We’ve got a great rugby player there. She’s going to be a huge asset to our game and give us a completely different dynamic.
“Everyone knows the attention on social media and that’s all well and good, but, from my perspective, we’ve got a world-class rugby player who wants to come and play in the 15s and is looking for the best. league and want to have the best program.
“That’s what we want to represent.”
Maher, who appears on US TV show Dancing with the Stars, will be home for Christmas before starting training in earnest in Bristol in the New Year.
However, she took part in a skills session with her new teammates on Monday and Ward was impressed with her passing, fitness and enthusiasm despite being away from the sport for four months.