{"id":5897,"date":"2024-12-01T22:47:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T22:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/?p=5897"},"modified":"2024-12-01T22:47:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-01T22:47:18","slug":"ilona-maher-aims-for-2025-womens-rugby-world-cup-with-rfu-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/sports\/ilona-maher-aims-for-2025-womens-rugby-world-cup-with-rfu-support\/5897\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilona Maher Aims for 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup with RFU Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Web Desk<\/strong> — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher has dropped a strong hint about her plans to compete in the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup following crucial support from England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maher recently clinched bronze with the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics and expressed her ambitions on Siya Kolisi’s Instagram account. She declared her intent to compete at the next World Cup, but her path to the tournament involved a significant intervention by the RFU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFU Backs Visa Application
<\/strong>The RFU has confirmed its role in facilitating Maher\u2019s plans, including endorsing her visa application to join England\u2019s Premier 15s league, PWR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement to BBC Sport, an RFU spokesperson explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe RFU provided the governing body endorsement for Maher in support of her visa application to play in England. Any applicants need to be \u2018internationally established [and] whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maher\u2019s Impressive Rugby Career
<\/strong>Ilona Maher made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and has since become a key player for the U.S. rugby sevens team. A two-time Pan American Games medalist, Maher added a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics to her achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Rugby: A Multi-Talented Star
<\/strong>Off the field, Maher continues to make waves. She was featured on the digital cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for the August 2024 edition, showcasing her athletic physique in a shoot captured by Ben Watts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Maher competed in the latest season of Dancing With the Stars. Partnered with Alan Bersten, she finished as a runner-up in the finale, with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy for season 33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future Prospects
<\/strong>With her sights set firmly on the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup, Maher\u2019s journey reflects her determination to excel both on and off the rugby pitch. Backed by the RFU and celebrated for her athletic and artistic achievements, she remains a versatile and inspiring figure in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Web Desk — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher has dropped a strong hint about her plans to compete in the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup following crucial support from England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU). Maher recently clinched bronze with the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics and expressed her ambitions on Siya Kolisi’s Instagram …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nIlona Maher Aims for 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup with RFU Support<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher sets her sights on the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup after receiving crucial support from England's RFU for her visa.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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