Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury - Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby - Source: Getty

Ilona Maher teams up with rugby stars Dan Cole and Ben Youngs to troll 'haters who don't respect' women's sport

Modified Jan 23, 2025 19:08 GMT

Ilona Maher cheekily trolled the haters of women's Rugby by teaming with prominent stars of the game, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs. The Olympic medalist is one of the most followed rugby players in the world and promotes the sport through her social media platforms.

Cole and Youngs are among the most popular English Rugby players, having represented England in over 100 matches each. Seen as an idol by many in the sport, Maher teamed up with the duo to promote women's Rugby and trolled its haters at the same.

Sharing a video with the duo on her side, she wrote:

"For all the haters who don't respect women's rugby...just know your rugby idols do."

The 28-year-old echoed the same message in the caption of the post and also added that Cole and Youngs had happily agreed to do the video.

"I always find it funny when people online are so judgmental and rude about women’s rugby. When in actuality some of the best men’s players in the world support the women’s game and want to see it thrive. When one rises, we all rise or something like that. Took literally no convincing to get these guys to make this video," Ilona Maher wrote

Maher made her debut with the USA Rugby World Cup Sevens team in 2018 following an impressive collegiate career with Quinnipiac Bobcats, where she won three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) championships and the 2017 MA Sorensen Award.

The Burlington native made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, scoring three tries to help the USA earn a sixth-place finish. The 28-year-old was impressive at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and scored tries in all three of the USA's group-stage matches before leading them to a bronze medal.

Maher has now shifted to Rugby 15s and plays for Premiership Women's Rugby club Bristol Bears.

Ilona Maher impressed in her first full PWR game with the Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears - Ilona Maher in action - Source: Getty

Ilona Maher had been eyeing a move to the English top flight since the end of 2023, and when the chance arose at the end of last year, she inked a three-month deal with Bristol Bears. The American made her debut off the bench in the Bears' 40–17 home loss to Gloucester-Hartpury.

The 28-year-old played in her first full PWR game against Exeter Chiefs and scored her maiden try and assist in the league to propel Bears to a commanding 41-31 victory. Maher, who aims to prepare for the 2025 Rugby 15s World Cup in her three-month stint with Bears, said it was the best team she could have chosen.

"To get my feet wet in this will really help me going to a World Cup and being the best for my team, Team USA. It’s been so great, the team is literally so welcoming and it’s such a cool environment to learn in, so it’s the best team I could’ve chosen," Ilona Maher said (via New York Times)

Maher suffered a nose injury during the next game against Leicester Tigers. Bears won the game 43-29 and will face Trailfinders on Saturday, January 25