Ilona Maher Announces She's Joining U.K. Rugby Team Bristol Bears — See Her Hilarious Announcement Video!

"Are there actually bears here?," Maher jokingly asks while announcing she's joining the Bristol team

Cameron Spencer/Getty Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States celebrates following victory during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match on July 30, 2024

Cameron Spencer/Getty

Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States celebrates following victory during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match on July 30, 2024

Ilona Maher made a major announcement in the most Ilona Maher way possible: With a hilarious video on social media.

The 28-year-old Olympian — and recent PEOPLE digital cover star! — announced on Monday, Dec. 2 that she's joining the Bristol Bears, of the Premiership Women's Rugby league, for their upcoming season.

Less than a week after finishing second on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars, Maher shared the video and said she's "so excited to join the Bristol Bears and play premiership women’s rugby with and against some of the best rugby players in the world."

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The social media darling — wearing her new Bears jersey — said she's "looking forward to calling Bristol home as we gear up for rugby World Cup 2025 played here in England," in the announcement video.

But, of course, the video also includes hilarious blooper-style quips from Maher about her new home.

Related: Ilona Maher Is Waiting for Guys to Slide into Her DMs — but for Now She'll Continue Being Funny Online (and IRL)

"Are there actually bears here? Because I don't know what to...are grizzly bears the nice ones? Black bears are the mean ones right?," Maher joked. "Just a question — is it gonna be this cold the whole time? It’s a little, little chilly," she asked the crew, who had no response.

Maher also jokingly suggested that one of the "big" reasons she signed with the Bristol, England team was for the "roast" she'll be served after signing.

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The comment section quickly flooded with congratulatory messages for the bronze medalist. Her DWTS partner Alan Bersten wrote, "Let’s go!!!!!!! I’m so proud of you. And can’t wait to see you kill it," in one comment, while the show's season 33 winner Joey Graziedei said, "LETS GOOOOO 💪🏽."

According to the Guardian, Maher had been looking for an English top-flight team and contacted several organizations in the Premiership league at the end of 2023.

Related: Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten on Their 'Annoying’ DWTS Bond: ‘Have You Seen Dumb and Dumber?’ (Exclusive)

Bristol reportedly won the battle for Maher when they promised to help her get a visa, which included an appeals process.

Michael Steele/Getty Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States runs with the ball during the Women's Rugby Sevens Quarter Final

Michael Steele/Getty

Ilona Maher #2 of Team United States runs with the ball during the Women's Rugby Sevens Quarter Final

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Maher told the Guardian: “All of a sudden I was getting all of these calls and emails from people saying: ‘We’re hearing you might be eligible to play, you want to come for us?’ Okay, well, I did want to play for you, I did want to do this. I had a lot of other teams calling to come play. I think I stood by Bristol because they did this work and I wanted to stick with them."

As she prepares for this new chapter, Maher admitted she's a bit nervous to join a new club. “I do feel like the first day of school, I am nervous, I don’t know everybody," she told the Guardian. "It is a stressful thing and it is outside of my comfort zone, but I think this is exactly what I love to do and I like to challenge myself in this way.”