Ilona Maher: Supports rebel rugby leagues, demands fair pay for players

The American rugby star, Ilona Maher, has expressed that independent rugby leagues could be positive for the sport, but warned that organizers must remunerate the players according to their value. Maher and the United States team are preparing to face England in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Sunderland. Although Maher’s immediate attention is on the field of play, the emergence of potential independent leagues is expected to be a recurring theme during the tournament, given the female talent that will be on display.

Maher has received numerous proposals for new initiatives, but he is waiting to see concrete actions.

The number of times I receive emails saying ‘we have a new league in development.’ That’s great. Let’s get started then and start paying these players fairly and according to their value.

Ilona Maher

“I would be interested, but I am not going to demean myself or devalue my worth. It’s not just about what I contribute on the field, but what I contribute off it, and I think that’s really important,” added Maher.

The most prominent independent league currently is R360, with plans to launch a renewed tournament in September 2026. Sources indicate that Maher is one of the leading candidates to head the women’s league. Maher, an Olympic bronze medalist, wants more players to show their personality on social media and for new leagues to value their potential. Maher is the rugby player, male or female, with the most followers on social media worldwide, with 5.2 million followers on Instagram and 3.6 million on TikTok.