American Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher has signed with the Bristol Bears for the remainder of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

Maher is the world’s most followed rugby union player on social media, with 4.5 million Instagram followers and 3.2 million on TikTok.

The utility back, who can play at center or on the wing, has signed a three-month contract starting in January.

The 28-year-old arrived in Bristol this week to train with her new teammates before returning to her native USA until the new year.

Bears head coach Dave Ward said Maher’s arrival was a “huge coup” for the club.

“Ilona is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will add real value to our program on and off the field,” Ward said.

“She is one of the standout stars in the sevens game and we can’t wait to see her play in the XVs for the Bears. Her ball-in-hand ability will add a new dimension to our attack and her desire to play a starring role in the rugby world.” Winning the England Cup next summer is a huge driving force for her to achieve great things with the Bears to reach.

“Her profile as an athlete who will inspire the next generation fits perfectly with ours as a club and we can only praise the work she has done and will do for women’s football.”

The news comes as Maher returns to XVs for the first time since 2021 after focusing on sevens for the past three years.

Speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, PWR chairwoman Genevieve Shore said: “We want the best athletes in the world to play in the PWR” and that Maher’s arrival was “arranged in just a few weeks – it happened pretty quickly”.

Shore described Maher’s potential on and off the court as “endless.”

“She’s an incredible athlete, she’s an incredible rugby player, she was great in sevens,” Shore said.

“I think it will have an incredible impact personally as well. Think of all the little girls and boys who will be in that first game watching her play.”

“I’m excited to see what that effect looks like.”