Wwe? Hollywood? Rugby? What Megastar Maher Might Do Next

Women's Rugby World Cup: England v United States

Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland Date: Friday, 22 August Kick-off: 19:30 BST

Coverage: Live connected BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app.

Ilona Maher says she is contemplating an connection to participate master wrestling pinch nan WWE aft playing for nan United States astatine nan Women's Rugby World Cup.

The 29-year-old societal media sensation, who has astir 9 cardinal followers crossed her Instagram, TikTok and X channels, has antecedently appeared connected Dancing pinch nan Stars and was named arsenic 2025's champion breakthrough jock astatine US broadcaster ESPN's prestigious Espy grant show.

"I've been approached earlier by nan WWE," she told BBC Sport, joking that her ringing sanction would beryllium 'Maher-vellous'.

"I don't cognize if I would [go into wrestling]. I should deliberation astir it, location is awesome money successful it."

Maher says that if she did get into wrestling it would beryllium pinch nan purpose of progressing into Hollywood.

"I would emotion to get into nan acting abstraction and nan scripted space. I deliberation a Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson, John Cena progression - I would emotion to do that," she added.

"It would beryllium breathtaking to spot my assemblage type connected nan screen. I'll commencement disconnected mini - astir apt for illustration a basking assassin aliases something, let's not get excessively crazy!

"I'm not going to beryllium successful a rom-com conscionable yet.

"We'll see. The world is open, but I do spot myself coming backmost to rugby."

Johnson has starred successful nan Fast and Furious franchise and Disney blockbuster Moana since leaving WWE, while Cena's acting profession includes a cameo successful 2023 deed Barbie.

Maher would not beryllium nan first sports prima to look successful WWE.

Boxers Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury person each made cameos, while Olympic medallists Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey person been cardinal ongoing characters successful nan promotion.

Maher, who has been named astatine extracurricular centre for Friday evening's World Cup opener against England successful Sunderland, says she remains a rugby subordinate first, contempt her phenomenal occurrence connected societal media and clutch of caller ventures.

Having won a bronze badge pinch nan US sevens squad astatine Paris 2024, she joined Premiership Women's Rugby broadside Bristol Bears connected a three-month statement successful January to thief her acclimatise to nan 15-a-side game.

Her debut against Gloucester-Hartpury group a caller attendance crowd for nan convention of 9,240 aft nan fixture was switched to Ashton Gate to accommodate much spectators, while her team's societal media footprint besides grew significantly.

"So galore times group forget, but I americium a rugby subordinate first," Maher added.

"I do nan societal media because I person to because it is not sustainable to beryllium a women's rugby subordinate - I americium not going to make money doing it.

"It does irk maine astatine times erstwhile group hide that. One remark erstwhile was: 'Are you going to watch nan Instagrammer play?'

"I was like, 'no, I person won a bronze medal, I've been to 2 Olympics, I americium a bully rugby subordinate who loves nan sport'.

"I americium proud to do some but I do want to beryllium known arsenic a rugby player."

The US are chopped underdogs against runaway world number ones and tourney favourites England connected Friday.

However, Maher believes nan absence of anticipation frees up her and her team-mates against nan hosts.

"I americium going into it pinch nan mindset not that we person thing to lose, but thing to summation from this. We person an opportunity present to person immoderate fun.

"The Red Roses not having mislaid a crippled for much than 1,000 days - that is having thing to lose. I don't deliberation we do.

"They will beryllium very reliable opponents. For america to hit them, we would person to beryllium connected our A-game each azygous infinitesimal of that game.

"But I americium conscionable excited to play successful beforehand of 40,000 people. Whether we triumph aliases suffer I want to beryllium capable to opportunity that I enjoyed it."

The US return connected Australia and Samoa successful their remaining Pool A games. Two teams from each of nan 4 pools beforehand to nan quarter-finals.