Ilona Maher says there must be a change in culture and mindset if rugby league is to grow as a sport.

The 28-year-old US international Maher has more than 8 million followers on Instagram and TikTok and is the most followed rugby player on social media in the world.

She has made a name for herself on social media by combining messages of body positivity and female empowerment with her signature sharp sense of humour, and was also runner-up on Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Maher currently has a three-month contract with Bristol Bears to play in the Premier League Women’s Rugby competition and she hopes to be part of the USA’s World Cup squad in England later this year.

She has already made a considerable impact in the West Country, helping to attract a club record crowd for the women’s game when she made her debut against Gloucester Hartpury at Ashton Gate.

Maher told a press conference attended by local, national and US media: “It’s great to have all these record numbers but we hope they can keep coming back for the next game. Just do that. It’s not enough.”

“I’m spilling a little bit here. But we need people to keep coming. It’s not just about me.

“There’s something special happening in women’s sport and women’s rugby, not just in England but around the world. My message is if I can get people to experience rugby, that’s great. I hope more people can take part. Play and watch games.

“We’re a very stoic sport in a way. I’d like to see more personality in the men’s game.

“You see it a little bit in guys like Joe Marler, but I can’t think of many other guys who have that ability. I wish they could show it more.

“There is a culture in rugby that we need to change. It’s a fantastic game but it’s an old game and the same things have been happening for years.

“We’ve been talking about how to get young people into the sport. These people are online. If the sport is going to grow, we have to change our mindset.”

England will host the biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup in August and September, with the final at the Allianz Stadium set to be a packed house.

Competitions will be held at venues from the north-east to the south-west, with two-time Olympian Maher adding: “More women need to take advantage of this and showcase themselves.

“I went to the Olympics (she was a member of the US rugby sevens team) and know people are made by the Olympics – Simone Biles, Michael Phelps.

“I went to Paris knowing I had a chance to show myself and planned to post a lot of videos. Can we plan during the World Cup for players to post more videos?

“I want to show that you can do both – play good rugby and put out great videos. We all have a responsibility to make the most of this World Cup.

“I’m from America, and NFL players make millions when they sign their first contract. We always talk about getting sponsorships but don’t know how to do it.

“I realize there’s a different way to do this. I’m not signing a million-dollar or six-figure contract anywhere. We need to do it a different way.

“We have to do more. I see the usefulness of social media and I think what sets the women’s game apart is the ease with which we can show our personality.

“I think the men’s game has a lot of great players but they don’t really show their personalities. We need to get more people watching our sport.”

Already familiar with trips to the Cotswolds, roast dinners, sausage rolls and flat whites – with Glastonbury, Cardiff and Scotland also on her to-do list – Maher is proving to be an influence Quite powerful.

“Showing yourself is how you connect with people,” she said. “If we talk about we want more funding, we want more of this, we have to work on it.

“If we want this to grow, the responsibility is on us. We have to do more, that’s just a simple fact.”