Rugby and social media sensation Ilona Maher has returned to the rugby field after being named in the USA Sevens squad for a pre-season tour of New Zealand.

The USA Women's Eagles Sevens have announced their travelling squad ahead of a week of training and a two-day tournament at Mount Maunganui.

The team will train in a simulated match-week environment before the tournament begins on Saturday, October 31, at Blake Park.

The event will feature a round-robin format, followed by a series of finals on Sunday, November 1.

USA will face Australia, Japan, France, Fiji and a New Zealand Development side. The tournament will give the team a chance to test new attacking moves and face familiar opponents outside of a Test environment.

Most notably selected is the Olympic bronze medallist Maher, who returns to rugby for the first time since the 2025 World Cup.

Her inclusion comes as USA Rugby continues to build depth ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Maher became one of rugby's biggest global stars at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She helped the USA win a historic bronze medal before enjoying a successful spell with Bristol Bears and representing her country at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Her performances in Paris took her fame far beyond rugby.

Maher went on to appear on Dancing with the Stars, feature on magazine covers and take part in major television interviews. She also secured several high-profile sponsorship deals.

With her growing profile and off-field commitments, rugby took a back seat after last year's World Cup.

However, her return to the USA Sevens squad suggests she is ready to focus on the sport again as the next Olympics draw closer.

Maher had already shown an interest in returning to rugby ahead of LA28. Now, her selection for the New Zealand tour marks a major step towards a possible return to the Olympic stage.

Her experience and profile could prove a huge boost for the USA as they look to build on their success in Paris and challenge for another medal on home soil in 2028.

However, the squad announcement comes with a note of caution.

The travelling group includes players who are medically fit and need additional game time. USA Rugby stressed that the selection does not represent its final player pool for the future.