CNN  —  American star Ilona Maher bid a tearful farewell to English rugby as she played her final game with Bristol Bears Women. Maher, who shot to fame during last year’s Paris Olympics , has had a huge impact on women’s rugby in England since her move to Bristol in January, instantly drawing big crowds. More than 9,200 fans attended Maher’s first home game for the Bears at Ashton Gate – easily double the team’s previous record – while close to 7,000 watched her final Premiership Women’s Rugby