In Bristol, England, rugby player Ilona Maher is set to play for the Bristol Bears this Saturday after she was sidelined last week due to a facial injury.

The 28-year-old athlete, who was instrumental in securing a bronze medal for the U.S. rugby sevens team at the Paris Olympics, will be changing positions, moving from her usual winger role to outside center for the upcoming match against Loughborough Lightning at Shaftesbury Park.

Maher had to exit Bristol’s game against Leicester on January 18 after sustaining what she later identified as a broken nose.

The Vermont native has shifted her focus back to the 15-a-side format as she aims to enhance her chances of securing a spot on the U.S. team for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, which will be held in England.

Known for her substantial social media presence, Maher is the most followed rugby player online; her recent arrival in England on a three-month contract with Bristol has generated considerable buzz for the league.

With a combined total of over 8 million followers across platforms like Instagram and TikTok, she has also gained fame as a runner-up on the popular television show “Dancing With The Stars.”