American Olympic bronze medallist Ilona Maher could appear in this season’s Premiership Women’s Rugby after the Rugby Football Union said it had supported her visa application.
In a coup for the English women’s top-flight, sevens star Maher is the most followed social media star in rugby union with 4.5m Instagram followers and 3.2m followers on Tiktok.
The RFU has told BBC Sport it has provided ‘governing body endorsement’ for Maher in support of her visa application to play in England.
It remains to be seen which club she will sign for, but she has reportedly, external been in talks with both Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury.
Having recently finished as runner-up in the US version of Strictly Come Dancing – Dancing with the Stars – it means the 28-year-old could join a club and resume her XVs career ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
Maher is established in sevens but only has two caps for the USA XVs side from 2021.
This would not usually allow her to play in the PWR under the ‘international sportsperson route’ as she would have needed to play for the USA XVs side in the last 24 months.
However, the RFU told BBC Sport: “The RFU provided the governing body endorsement for Ilona Maher in support of her visa application to play in England.
“Our governing body endorsement criteria provides that any applicants need to be ‘internationally established [and] whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK’.
“The criteria provided a route for entry at the time of the application.”
Speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, PWR chair Genevieve Shore confirmed that Maher could play in the PWR this season.
“We want the best players in the world playing in the PWR, I think the RFU sound like they’ve made a good decision,” said Shore.
The two-time Olympian helped the USA sevens team to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
The 2024-25 sevens series is under way in Dubai and the USA Sevens side are without Maher, who has expressed a desire to focus on XVs in 2025 with a view to competing in the Rugby World Cup in England.
Sara Orchard, BBC rugby union reporter
No PWR club is yet to confirm Maher has signed for them, but whoever does land her signature has made the signing of a generation.
Her popularity inside and outside rugby union will no doubt be a huge boost to match attendances wherever she goes.
However, it is her international appeal that will reach beyond any club she signs for.
TV viewing figures will be expected to increase along with her impressive social media presence.
She’s already modelled for “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit” as she promotes her message for strong healthy women to be positive about their body shape.
Her hashtag “#beastbeautybrains” is an accurate summary of the worlds she moves in with both ease and global popularity.
If you dare look ahead to the women’s Rugby World Cup in England next August, the Red Roses open the tournament against the USA Eagles, and if Maher does breakthrough in XVs, that is some very astute planning.
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