‘Weaker’ Ilona Maher Confirms Rugby Stance Amidst DWTS Tour Dates

Ilona Maher proved to everyone that she’s just more than an Olympian when she rocked the DWTS stage. She silenced all the critics around her in the dancing industry as she proved her talent to the world and even became a runner-up in season 33 of the reality show. However, she hasn’t turned down her rugby career yet, as she will be back in a whole new appearance in the 2025 campaign.

Signed with Bristol Bears, Maher will be playing in the English ground until her contract expires, and she’s just excited about this new journey in her life. Furthermore, she has made a candid confession on this new adventure of hers and also stressed that she won’t be missing out on the latest DWTS tour.

Ilona Maher’s strong mindset

Being a professional rugby player and making time for other activities that require a similar amount of physical stress is something admirable. Ilona Maher is willing to engage in both activities, having discovered her passion for dancing after competing in DWTS season 33. While she didn’t win the first-place trophy, her runner-up position in her very first season made her realize her potential in this industry. However, is she willing to give up her dashing rugby career, where she has earned an Olympic bronze medal?

Absolutely not! She is willing to get a grasp on both fields, no matter how tough the journey would be. Maher is up for a challenge with a determined mindset, which she revealed during an interview with Parade, stating, “I would love to do more, but it was important for me to go back to my passion of rugby. With the World Cup coming up next year, I wanted to prepare myself for that.” The main reason for her going back to rugby after DWTS success was none other than her interest in the World Cup. She wants to get a hand on that title, for which she understands what needs to be done in the particular time being.

Despite all that, Maher also opened up on her DWTS thoughts, stating, “And though I would love to have been [on tour] spending every day with Alan again, I need to also focus on what really brings me joy and what I think will move me forward and move the sport forward.” Although it hasn’t been long, Maher is already missing her DWTS partner. However, the rugby player understands the high stakes of the sport, and she would like to pursue her ambitions in it. Furthermore, she is aware of her rise to popularity, and the decision she’s making isn’t just for her career but for the whole sport.

Speaking to Parade, she also revealed how the reality show has taken a toll on her, stating, “I feel weaker, which isn’t something that I would like to be. I always love to be stronger. I’ve always found my body is for a purpose, not for aesthetics. I go for function over form. So, it was tough for me to be in this environment where I was using my body a different way, where I wasn’t strength training or running.” DWTS was completely new to her the moment she set foot in it. However, she acknowledged the challenges and mentioned how she thrived in it, despite the fact that it wasn’t an easy task to do.

Maher has consistently excelled, yet she has remained receptive to the challenges she has encountered throughout her life. Regardless of her activities outside of rugby, she eventually returns to the sport after a period. And this time, she is completely set on a new adventure that will also bring her a new perspective and a ton of new challenges.

DWTS star’s newest rugby challenge

After winning her career-first Olympic bronze medal at the French capital, Ilona Maher was busy with other endeavors. She participated in DWTS, but her love for rugby never faded away. And as the reality show is over, she’s back in the sport, but with a new challenge. Maher has signed a three-month contract with the Bristol Bears and is looking forward to playing in England. She also expressed her emotions towards the new journey, stating, “I feel like the first day of school. I’m nervous. But this is what I love.”

The rugby star will start up her 2025 campaign as early as January, as she’s aiming for a strong World Cup preparation. Furthermore, with her growing popularity, she garnered a ton of attention the moment she signed with the Bears, causing more than 5,000 tickets to be sold out, making history. Taking up this opportunity, her teammate, Hannah Botterman, posted on social media that if the ticket sales reach 10,000 and she manages to score in the game, then she will be doing a Chloe Kelly-like celebration during the match. Indeed, Maher is excited about her new journey, but so are her legion of followers, who are up for some rugby action.