" I don't know what to do" - Ilona Maher reacts jokingly to potential bear encounter in the UK after joining the Bristol Bears

Ilona Maher recently announced her signing with the Bristol Bears Women's Rugby team in a lighthearted video shared on social media. Following the events, in the clip, the 28-year-old humorously refers to the UK as 'bear country' and jokes about her uncertainty in handling a potential bear encounter.

The American rugby star signed a three-month contract with the Bristol Bears in January, following the announcement made in December 2024. Her official announcement video offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her creative approach to sharing the news.

While traveling in a car, preparing for the shoot, she shared candid moments, describing her plans to blend humor and theatrics in the announcement. The video opens with her musing about grizzly and black bears, showcasing her playful take on the idea of bear country. The Instagram video shared by Bristol Bears women captioned:

"Let her cook! BTS of @ilonamaher's announcement video in Bear Country 🐻🍿"

"I heard this is bear country. Are there, actually, bears here? Because I don't know what to do. Are grizzly bears the nice ones? What about black bears are the mean ones, right? No one knows. Okay!", Maher said in the video. (0:05 onwards)

Maher then announced her move to the Bristol Bears, saying:

"I'm so excited to join the Bristol Bears and play premiership rugby with and against some of the best rugby players in the world." (at 0:28)

Ilona Maher is relocating to the United Kingdom to prepare for the Premiership Women's Rugby League. She recently expressed her excitement about living overseas and meeting new people.

Ilona Maher reflects on living abroad after joining Bristol Bears

Ilona Maher in Los Angeles - September 25, 2024 - Source: Getty

Ilona Maher recently signed a three-month deal with Bristol Bears, a prominent rugby club in the UK. She arrived in Bristol on December 31 and began training on New Year's Day. She is now set to make her debut for the team in their highly anticipated PWR match against Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday.

Before relocating, the 28-year-old shared her enthusiasm for the move during an interview on the Rubdy Run Down podcast in January 2025, showcasing eagerness about living abroad and forming new connections in the UK. She said:

"A culture of rugby is really Cool. To be where there's great teams all around and, you know, high levels wherever you go, I think I'm excited to live in another place. I've never lived abroad. and this would be a really good experience." (0:01 onwards)

Ilona Maher is returning to 15-a-side rugby for the first time since 2021. The 28-year-old had a key role to play in the US rugby sevens team clinching bronze at the Paris Olympics.