US women took rugby bronze – creating a golden chance to grow the American game

Alex ‘Spiff’ Sedrick celebrates with Naya Tapper after scoring the winning try against Australia at Stade de France. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

In early July, in Washington DC, the head of World Rugby talked about the need for a “Caitlin Clark effect”: the advent of a talent so huge it gives a sport rocket fuel, powering it to the front of the American mind.

“That’s a great example of the power of personality in women’s sport,” Alan Gilpin said of the basketball star. “We may see a bit of that with what Ilona Maher is doing around the Olympics.”