RFU supports Maher visa application to play in PWR

American Olympic bronze medallist Ilona Maher could look successful this season's Premiership Women's Rugby aft the Rugby Football Union said it had supported her visa application.

In a coup for the English women's top-flight, sevens prima Maher is the astir followed societal media prima successful rugby national with 4.5m Instagram followers and 3.2m followers connected Tiktok.

The RFU has told BBC Sport it has provided 'governing assemblage endorsement' for Maher successful enactment of her visa exertion to play successful England.

It remains to beryllium seen which nine she volition motion for, but she has reportedly, external been successful talks with some Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury.

Having precocious finished arsenic runner-up successful the US mentation of Strictly Come Dancing - Dancing with the Stars - it means the 28-year-old could articulation a nine and resume her XVs vocation up of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

Maher is established successful sevens but lone has 2 caps for the USA XVs broadside from 2021.

This would not usually let her to play successful the PWR nether the 'international sportsperson route' arsenic she would person needed to play for the USA XVs broadside successful the past 24 months.

However, the RFU told BBC Sport: "The RFU provided the governing assemblage endorsement for Ilona Maher successful enactment of her visa exertion to play successful England.

“Our governing assemblage endorsement criteria provides that immoderate applicants request to beryllium ‘internationally established [and] whose employment volition marque a important publication to the improvement of their athletics astatine the highest level successful the UK’.

"The criteria provided a way for introduction astatine the clip of the application."

Speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, PWR seat Genevieve Shore confirmed that Maher could play successful the PWR this season.

"We privation the champion players successful the satellite playing successful the PWR, I deliberation the RFU dependable similar they’ve made a bully decision," said Shore.

The two-time Olympian helped the USA sevens squad to a bronze medal astatine the 2024 Paris Games.

The 2024-25 sevens bid is nether mode successful Dubai and the USA Sevens broadside are without Maher, who has expressed a tendency to absorption connected XVs successful 2025 with a presumption to competing successful the Rugby World Cup successful England.

Sara Orchard, BBC rugby national reporter

No PWR nine is yet to corroborate Maher has signed for them, but whoever does onshore her signature has made the signing of a generation.

Her popularity wrong and extracurricular rugby national volition nary uncertainty beryllium a immense boost to lucifer attendances wherever she goes.

However, it is her planetary entreaty that volition scope beyond immoderate nine she signs for.

TV viewing figures volition beryllium expected to summation on with her awesome societal media presence.

She's already modelled for "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" arsenic she promotes her connection for beardown steadfast women to beryllium affirmative astir their assemblage shape.

Her hashtag "#beastbeautybrains" is an close summary of the worlds she moves successful with some easiness and planetary popularity.

If you situation look up to the women’s Rugby World Cup successful England adjacent August, the Red Roses unfastened the tourney against the USA Eagles, and if Maher does breakthrough successful XVs, that is immoderate precise astute planning.