From the Olympics to DWTS to Ashton Gate Stadium, Ilona Maher is on a roll. The American Bronze Medalist has signed a three-month contract with the Bristol Bears ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. Maher kicks off her Bears journey with a match against reigning Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury this Sunday, Jan. 5 in a repeat of the last season’s final. Due to excitement over Maher’s potential Bristol Bears debut (she’s set to be a sub tomorrow), the match has been relocated to Ashton Gate Stadium, with nearly 8,000 attendees anticipated. For those U.S. fans tuning in to Maher’s first match, Bristol Bears vs. Gloucester-Hartpury kicks off at 7:45 a.m. ET/4:45 a.m. PT.
Will Maher give the Bears a winning edge to rewrite their final loss last season? Tune in tomorrow (bright and early) to find out!
How to watch Ilona Maher’s first rugby game with the Bristol Bears:
Date: Jan. 5, 2025
Time: 7:45 a.m. ET/4:45 a.m. PT
Location: Ashton Gate, Bristol, England
TV channel: N/A
Streaming: TRN+
When is Ilona Maher’s first Bristol Bears game?
The Bristol Bears play Gloucester-Hartpury in a Premiership Women’s Rugby game this Sunday, Jan. 5. Maher’s debut game will kick off at 12:45 p.m. local time in Bristol, England. For U.S. viewers, that means the game is on bright and early at 7:45 a.m. ET/4:45 a.m. PT.
What channel is Ilona Maher’s first Bristol Bears game on?
In the U.S., select Premiership Women’s Rugby matches are available to watch exclusively on The Rugby Network. Certain games on TRN stream for free as long as you make an account. However, tomorrow’s Bristol Bears vs. Gloucester-Hartpury match is one of the games behind a paywall, streaming on TRN+.
How to watch Premiership women’s rugby in the U.S.:
TRN+ offers live Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Premiership Rugby Cup and select Premiership Women’s Rugby matches. You can also catch full match replays and highlights on the platform. TRN+ offers a free trial.
Try free at The Rugby Network
How to watch the Bristol Bears vs. Gloucester-Hartpury match free in the U.S.:
Outside of the UK and the U.S., lots of Premiership Women’s Rugby matches are available to stream live for free on Rugbypass TV — including .
At the moment, Rugbypass TV is a totally free platform. All you’ll need to do to stream matches is make a free account. Of course, if you’re in the U.S., that means you might need some help from a VPN.
Fans outside of the U.S., UK and Ireland can catch the Bristol Bears vs. Gloucester-Hartpury match free on Rugbypass TV. Don’t currently reside outside of the U.S., UK or Ireland? You can still stream rugby like you do with the help of a VPN.
ExpressVPN offers “internet without borders,” meaning you can tune into international shows, movies and sporting events easier with one. All you’ll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location and then find the game/match/show on the right platform: In this case, that’s Rugbypass TV, where you’ll need to make a free account to access the match.
ExpressVPN’s added protection, speed and range of location options makes it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus, it’s Engadget’s top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 49% when they sign up for ExpressVPN’s 12-month subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.
From $6.67/month at ExpressVPN
