Holly Aitchison – I want to inspire like Finn Russell in the women’s game

Arriving at Sale Sharks as part of a high-profile revamp, Holly Aitchison has made a big move this summer.

She’s adamant she won’t do it again.

“[England head coach] John Mitchell made it quite clear to me that I could cover different positions, but I’m 10,” she told BBC Sport.

“And I won’t be seen as anything else.”

A year ago, this question would not have been asked.

In WXV in Canada, Aitchison was the top half for the Red Roses, leading them to title victories over New Zealand and Canada.

Her playmaking and running skills have been a key part of diversifying England’s threat, ensuring that by the time the Rugby World Cup comes in England, they will have skills more advanced than a bandsaw.

It didn’t turn out like that.

Zoe Harrison goes up front as a top 10 option, with Aitchison shifting to midfield or the bench.

An ankle injury in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup meant Aitchison struggled to compete for a place, as she only featured in the knockout stages and was then deployed as a substitute in midfield in the semi-final and final victories over France and Canada respectively.

But the 28-year-old is determined to stick to her stance and philosophy.

“I want to dictate,” she said.

“Obviously I had an ankle injury before the World Cup, but we were definitely moving in a more expansive direction.

“This is something I stand for, this is what I carry as a No.10.

“I want to inspire the backline, I want to play the kind of rugby that attracts spectators.

“In the men’s game, I think of players like Finn Russell, you have to buy a ticket to watch him.

“I want that kind of buzz around players in women’s football where we create that style of brand that people want to see.”

And at Sale, she hopes to find the right theater to do just that.

The team finished in the PWR last season, but they have invested and improved.

Aitchison’s England team-mate Amy Cockayne and Scotland winger Rhona Lloyd were also signed over the summer, while England’s Morwenna Talling and USA lock Erica Jarrell Searcy are part of an exciting five-player squad in the squad.

Sale co-owner Michelle Orange has earmarked this season, after the Rugby World Cup, as an opportunity to lure some England players back north and strengthen the struggling squad.

Aitchison, who was born and raised on Merseyside, was a prime target.

“Holly was on my list, not just as a poster girl for the Red Roses, but also for the North West and women’s rugby in general,” Orange told BBC Sport.

“She is a perfect fit to come here. We are very lucky to have Katie Daly-McLean – one of England’s best ever fly-half – heading up our women’s program and Holly following her.

“I love Holly’s style, her sass, the way she puts herself out there on social media and recognizes her fan base, and that’s exactly what we want in our team to bring in some extra X-factors and complement the girls we already have.”