Ilona Maher celebrated her first start for Bristol with a try as part of an impressive display in the 41-31 win over Exeter at Sandy Park.
Maher, the game’s most popular player on social media with more than eight million followers, ran up the middle of the pitch and scored twice in a 55th-minute try made possible by his speed and power.
The United States sevens star also showed her worth as a provider when she came out on her wing to lick three defenders before slotting past Meg Varley to score the bonus point that keeps Bristol in contention for the Premiership Women’s Rugby Play-Offs.
“It felt like a seven. My teammates did a job to get me through and I had to go through a couple of defenders. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s seven,'” Maher told TNT Sports.
“I don’t turn people around, it’s never been my thing.
“Now it will be clear, when there are three people in front of me, how can I get through them? I was more proud with the help of the experience. I took a small step there, which I have never done before.”
Social media sensation Ilona Maher joined Bristol on the back of winning Rugby Sevens bronze for the USA at the Paris Olympics.
Maher won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last summer and is aiming for a spot on the U.S. team for the World Cup, hosted by England later this year.
A week ago, he made his first under-15 appearance since 2021 when he came off the bench in the 40-17 defeat by Gloucester-Hartpury.
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