Ilona Maher brought her signature energy to the pitch in her latest appearance for the Bristol Bears. She is the most followed rugby union player among men and women. Ilona has 4.5m Instagram followers and 3.2m TikTok followers. Not only her rugby competence on the field, but Ilona garnered massive fanfare through the body positivity campaign on the internet and her recent DWTS appearance. That all has now paid off. In her recent rugby match against Gloucester-Hartpury at the PWR regular season, spectators flocked to the stadium to watch the most hyped match. 

Soaked up the fanfare, Ilona Maher expressed the importance of such amassed sports events. “You know, uh it’s really important for me to connect with them because that it’s not only the next generation of rugby players, it’s the next generation of fans,” after her 20-minute play with the Bristol Bears, Ilona told the reporters. Though the Bears succumbed to defeat against their rival Gloucester-Hartpury, Ilona’s home club debut created excitement among fans. 

On a three-month contract with Bristol, the 28-year-old Illona will switch back to her country team XV this summer. Yet her debut match for the Bears saw a massive impact. Nearly 10,000 spectators were hoarded into Aston Gate Stadium on January 5, mostly young women and men. The BBC reported that her fans came from Kentucky and Washington, D.C. Brimming with fans’ applause, Illona walked among them, taking pictures–hours after the match ended. 

Felt that hype herself, Ilona Maher expressed her gratitude to them. After the play, the rugby sensation told reporters, “I think you know to get 9, 9100 people out there like that’s so cool. And that was a go of mine. It’s like, yeah! okay, come out here to watch me play but come more to see the level of rugby you’re going to see. Um and then hopefully that brings them out when I’m not even playing.” 

This massive turnout for the rugby match will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of young and women rugby players. Furthermore, the record-breaking attendance at the PWR season represents a significant financial boost. 

Ilona Maher’s debut is a fan-fueled success

Last year, Ilona won the Dancing With the Stars competition—not actually, but she won the fans’ hearts, and she amassed fan votes. This made her the runner-up–showcasing her strong fan following. The fans didn’t stop there. On Ilona Maher’s return to rugby and teaming up with Bristol Bears, fans entered the stadium with seats. Enthusiasts came into the stadium wearing shirts with her name emblazoned on the back. They were so attracted to see Ilona’s debut match that they even fell for rumors. 

Hearing rumors about Ilona Mehar’s debut match suddenly created a buzz among her followers. At that time, no official news had come to light about her debut. But fans are fans–they are devotees. Owing to that rumor about Ilona Meher’s first match and the hype, the Bristol Bears moved their usual ground from Shaftesbury Park to Ashton Gate. Simply put, the decision was a hit. Nearly 10000 fans, mostly young, accommodating in a rather small space are impossible. And for every sports lover–we can cross our fingers for more of its good outcomes.