BRISTOL, England (AP) — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher made her highly-anticipated debut for the Bristol Bears women's team on Sunday, attracting a record crowd of 9,240 fans at Ashton Gate. Unfortunately, Maher's first game ended in disappointment as Bristol lost 40-17 to the defending champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match.

Maher, touted as “the most followed rugby player on the planet,” entered the match as a substitute in the 61st minute, with Bristol already trailing 28-10. Despite her efforts to create opportunities and contribute to a couple of rucks, her involvement was limited in the short time frame she was on the field.

The crowd was indicative of the excitement surrounding Maher’s arrival, prompting Bristol to move the match from a smaller venue in order to accommodate fans. The previous attendance record for a Bristol women's home game was 4,101 against Harlequins in May 2022.

At 28 years old, Maher is on a three-month contract with Bristol, a decision influenced by her success in leading the U.S. to a bronze medal in rugby sevens at the recent Paris Games. She initially joined the team for training in December, right before returning to the U.S. for the holiday season.

With more than 8 million followers across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Maher is also recognized for her stint as a runner-up on the popular TV show “Dancing With The Stars”. Her goal is to elevate her profile in the 15-a-side game to secure a spot on the U.S. team for the upcoming 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, where she can play either as a wing or center.

Bristol pointed out that this attendance record also stands as the highest for a stand-alone game in the league, with the leading Harlequins having set a separate women's club rugby attendance record of 18,055 at Twickenham Stadium back in December, during a doubleheader event.

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