Naya Tapper talks teammate Ilona Maher and her positive impact
Rugby bronze medalist Naya Tapper has nothing but good things to say about teammate and fellow medalist, Ilona Maher at the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Sports Seriously
Ilona Maher is taking her talents across the pond.
Fresh off a second-place finish on “Dancing with the Stars,” the Burlington, Vermont, native announced she has signed with the Bristol Bears, a rugby club in the United Kingdom.
The team announced Monday it signed Maher to a three-month deal beginning in January 2025.
Maher will be making the switch to the rugby union club after playing much of her career in rugby sevens.
“I am excited to join the Bristol Bears and put myself in the best position to earn a spot to represent USA in the 2025 Rugby World Cup alongside such a talented and driven group as the Bears,” Maher said in a release.
Ilona Maher announces signing with Bristol Bears in social media video
True to her persona, Ilona Maher announced her signing with the Bristol Bears Monday in a witty video on Instagram.
“I heard this was bear country,” Maher says, before asking the cameraman if there are actually bears at the club’s stadium.
Maher added that she’s excited to join the club to prepare for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, which will be played in England.
“Can we get a roast after this?” Maher asks in the video. “I keep hearing about that.”
What to know about the Bristol Bears, Ilona Maher’s new rugby union club
The Bristol Bears are a men’s and women’s rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The team plays in Premiership Rugby, the top division of rugby in England.
As a rugby union club, the Bears play in a 15 player format, as opposed to rugby sevens, which consists of seven players per team.
Maher has played much of professional career in rugby sevens for the USA Eagles.