Ilona Maher is finally back where she truly belongs—on the rugby field! After taking a break from the sport to strut her stuff on Dancing With The Stars season 33, Maher returned to her roots, and honestly, it’s like she never left. Going up against fellow Olympian Stephen Nedoriscik, Maher had an absolute blast, even though she was a total rookie in the dance world. Lucky for her, she paired up with pro dancer Alan Bersten, and together, they showed off some serious chemistry. Her hard work and determination paid off, earning her the runner-up spot—just missing the win by the tiniest of margins.

Once her DWTS stint was over, Maher was ready to get back into her rugby groove. And what better way to do that than by getting selected for the Premiership Women’s Rugby? She’d made no secret of wanting to play in the PWR, and the Bristol Bears were more than happy to bring her on board—thanks in no small part to her incredible performance at the Paris Olympics, where she led her team to bronze, which was their first Olympic medal.

When Maher made her PWR debut, the excitement was off the charts. Fans were so eager to see her that the venue had to be changed to a larger one just to accommodate the massive crowd. A video uploaded by ‘thtsportsrugby’ showed Maher pacing the field, absolutely buzzing with energy. Her sister Olivia was there too, and couldn’t hide her excitement, captioning the video, “It was electric in there…”

The closed captions of the video read, “How it felt watching Ilona Maher make her PWR debut.” Maher didn’t just let the fans watch from the sidelines, though. She spent a full 55 minutes signing autographs and taking selfies, fully embracing the buzz around her. Everyone wanted a piece of the Olympian, and Maher happily obliged. Unfortunately, despite creating a big hype, Maher’s initial run in the PWR ended in quite an anti-climactic manner.

Aiming for a victory, the Olympic bronze medalist suffered a 17-40 defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury. Joining the team, on a three-month contract, the 28-year-old is determined to prove her worth for the team. Overall, Maher had an average debut. She came in off the bench and had a good 20 minutes worth of game time. Sadly, Maher’s attempts on the wings were not enough to see the Bears make a drastic turnaround. 

Disappointed by the outcome, Ilona Maher now wants to make amends in the future. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Maher explained that she was nervous initially as the match began. However, she was also hoping to get into her original elements soon. “I want to go on the field and do well for my team-mates. It’s a lot of system play. In the sevens it’s ‘get ball, run’, but [in 15s] there are so many steps in between to get that ball, but I’ve been doing my best,” said Maher. Meanwhile, fans were overly excited to see Ilona Maher back in action. They quickly took to the internet and expressed their mindset on the matter. 

Ilona Maher gets fans’ support despite a gloomy PWR debut

As soon as the video of Ilona Maher’s PWR debut went viral, the floodgates of love opened in the comment section. One fan shared their admiration for Maher’s incredible ability to balance the worlds of rugby and entertainment, saying, “I really hope someone makes a women’s rugby documentary series like a TV show.” It’s clear fans are eager to see more of her journey. But it wasn’t just fans swooning. Even Alan Bersten, Maher’s Dancing With The Stars partner, couldn’t resist jumping in on the fun.

Known for his playful banter with Maher, Bersten cheekily wrote, “Did I teach her that? I’ll let you be the judge of that.” The comment was a nod to the growth Maher showed during their dance stint, highlighting the newfound confidence that’s now seeping into her rugby performance. Fans who love shipping these two, of course, ate it up!

Another rugby fan chimed in, praising Maher’s raw power on the field, even with her limited time in the game. “Runs on, smashes a tackle, hits a ruck…She’s going to do big things in this league!” they wrote, clearly convinced that Maher’s impact on the PWR is just getting started. But wait. There’s more!

One fan, clearly loving the live rugby experience, shared their excitement despite the team’s loss, writing, “Super fun to go and watch live today!! Already have tickets to the next one!!☝️” With 4.7 million Instagram followers and counting, Maher’s influence is undeniable, and fans are already looking forward to her next game. Mark your calendars—she’ll be back on January 12 (Sunday) and January 18 (Saturday) to face off against the Chiefs and Leicester Tigers, respectively.

Reflecting on the electric reception Maher received in her debut for the Bristol Bears, one fan summed it up perfectly, saying, “The way the crowd loved @ilonamaher was amazing! We gave her a proper welcome to 🐻 country!” That love was felt loud and clear—so much so that the venue had to be moved to accommodate the massive crowd. A record 9,240 fans packed Ashton Gate to witness Maher’s debut, and though the Bears took the L, the excitement for Maher and her future in the league was undeniable. She made sure to engage with her fans, signing autographs, snapping selfies, and making the moment even more memorable.

The PWR hit a milestone with more than 9,000 fans in attendance, and Maher’s debut was a major part of that success. As she looks to leave her mark on the league, it’ll be fascinating to see if she can recreate the Olympic magic she’s known for in this new chapter of her career.