Ilona Maher Announces She's Joining U.K. Rugby Team Bristol Bears — See Her Hilarious Announcement Video!

Mar. 15, 2025

Cameron Spencer/Getty

Ilona Mahermade a major announcement in the most Ilona Maher way possible: With a hilarious video on social media.

But, of course, the video also includes hilarious blooper-style quips from Maher about her new home.

“Are there actually bears here? Because I don’t know what to…are grizzly bears the nice ones? Black bears are the mean ones right?,” Maher joked. “Just a question — is it gonna be this cold the whole time? It’s a little, little chilly,” she asked the crew, who had no response.

Maher also jokingly suggested that one of the “big” reasons she signed with the Bristol, England team was for the “roast” she’ll be served after signing.

The comment section quickly flooded with congratulatory messages for the bronze medalist. HerDWTSpartner Alan Bersten wrote, “Let’s go!!!!!!! I’m so proud of you. And can’t wait to see you kill it,” in one comment, while the show’s season 33 winner Joey Graziedei said, “LETS GOOOOO 💪🏽.”

According to theGuardian, Maher had been looking for an English top-flight team and contacted several organizations in the Premiership league at the end of 2023.

Bristol reportedly won the battle for Maher when they promised to help her get a visa, which included an appeals process.

Michael Steele/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As she prepares for this new chapter, Maher admitted she’s a bit nervous to join a new club. “I do feel like the first day of school, I am nervous, I don’t know everybody," she told theGuardian. “It is a stressful thing and it is outside of my comfort zone, but I think this is exactly what I love to do and I like to challenge myself in this way.”

source: people.com