U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher has made her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team in front of a record home crowd of 9,240.

Maher will be "officially unveiled" to fans this weekend, and the Bristol Bears have already moved their Sunday game to a larger venue to accommodate more fans.

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher made her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team in front of a record home crowd of 9,240 fans on Sunday. But Maher, "the most followed rugby player on the planet,” could not prevent Bristol from losing 40-17 to defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match.

Ticket sales have broken a record ahead of U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher making her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team.The Olympic bronze medalist won't be in the starting lineup, however, when the Bears face defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match switched from a smaller venue to Ashton Gate to satisfy demand for seats.

The pre-match metallic fireworks that erupted into the sky was English rugby’s way of welcoming its latest superstar. Ilona Maher, the most followed rugby player on social media and now as a cult heroine in the sport,