Ilona Maher Opens Up About Women's Rugby, Romance Novels, & Body Image

Ilona Maher Opens Up About Women's Rugby, Romance Novels, & Body Image

When Ilona Maher finishes a rugby game — one that’s full of tackles, sprints, and mauls — she doesn’t rush to the locker room to relax and ice down. Instead, she goes out to meet her fans. For the Olympic medalist, saying hi to the crowds is her priority. “I love that they connect with me and see themselves in me,” the 28-year-old tells Bustle. “I like to go out and say thank you.”After playing rugby 15s at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, …