Is Ilona Maher playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup?

THE Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to take England by storm this summer!

The tournament will see the Red Roses hosts look to finally end the dominance of New Zealand’s Black Ferns.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 29: Ilona Maher #2 of the United States Women's National Team carries the ball during a women's Medal Quarter Final match between Great Britain and USA on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Ilona Maher has been a standout performer for the US at the last two Olympics in rugby sevens
GATESHEAD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Ilona Maher of the USA poses for a portrait during the USA Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Portrait Session on August 15, 2025 in Gateshead, England. (Photo by Karl Bridgeman - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Maher plays as an outside centre in rugby union
Getty

Ahead of the 2033 Women’s World Cup being hosted Stateside, the US team will be hoping for a strong showing in England.

The Eagles were the inaugural champions of the Women’s World Cup in 1991, but have been unable to add to their tally since then.

Ilona Maher has previously shone for the US at the 2021 and 2024 Olympics, picking up a bronze medal in Paris last summer.

SunSport can reveal whether or not Maher will be playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Is Ilona Maher playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup?

Yes, Ilona Maher is going to feature for USA at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The US star rose to fame with videos from the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and her displays at the 2024 Paris Olympics only grew her fame in stature.

While Maher was a rugby sevens star at the Olympics, she rose to stardom in rugby union in England after signing for Bristol Bears in the PWR.

FILE - Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher reacts to the crowd after the end of the women's rugby union match between Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol, England, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton, File)
Ilona Maher has experience in England after playing for Bristol Bears

Maher tends to play at outside centre – which is number 13 on the pitch, and will start there in USA’s opening clash against England.

The US star has spoken about the importance of doing well at this tournament, saying: “We want the fans in America to see us play here because we’ve got a World Cup there in eight years and we need to start building for that.”