Undemocratic sport

Women’s rugby in England has seen a massive surge in interest with the arrival at the Bristol Bears of Ilona Maher, the US Dancing with the Stars and international Sevens sensation.

A record-breaking 9000-plus fans attended her first Bears’ game this month – but Ilona, and Bristol, couldn’t stop the irrepressible Gloucester Hartpury team from coming away 40-17 winners.

The Bears stood toe-to-toe until half-time, but shipped 33 points in the second half. Maher came on with around 20 minutes to go but could do little to make an impression.

Everyone was waiting with bated breath for the world’s most famous player to make an impact, and she had no opportunities. It wasn’t her fault – for various reasons, the ball didn’t come her way.

However, it illustrates how rugby can be very undemocratic in spreading the playing load.

Wingers, the role Maher played in this game, don’t see much of the ball if the team can’t find the time and space to release them. They might end up just chasing kicks, which isn’t Bristol’s style.

She might be told to go "looking for work". Given her inexperience as a 15s player (this was only her third 15-a-side game), this might prove a big ask.

If you run a grassroots team, you want players to be more involved. It’s tough when some always put themselves up to carry.

The challenge for the Bears, and us, is to find ways to encourage all our players to get onto the ball at the right time.

• There is a happy ending to Ilona Maher’s arrival. The week after her debut, Ilona started the game, scored a try, set up another, and was a complete handful on the pitch.