I want to inspire like Finn Russell – Aitchison

PWR: Sale Sharks v Trailfinders

Venue: Morson Stadium, Sale Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

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

She is adamant she won’t be making a second.

“[England head coach] John Mitchell has made it pretty clear to me that I can cover different positions, but I am a 10,” she told BBC Sport.

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

A year ago, the question wouldn’t have been asked.

At WXV in Canada, Aitchison was the Red Roses’ starting fly-half, steering them to title-clinching victories over New Zealand and Canada.

Her playmaking and running abilities were a key part of diversifying England’s threat, ensuring that, come the Rugby World Cup in England, they would have more cutting edges than a bandsaw.

It didn’t turn out like that.

Zoe Harrison edged in front as first-choice 10, with Aitchison shifted into the centres or on to the bench.

An ankle injury in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup meant Aitchison struggled to challenge for her spot, only appearing in the knock-out stages and then being deployed as a midfield replacement in the semi-final and final victories over France and Canada respectively.

But the 28-year-old is resolute in sticking to her position and her philosophy.

“I want to dictate,” she said.

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

“That’s something that I champion, that’s what I bring as a 10.

“I want to inspire the backline, I want to play this brand of rugby that attracts viewers.

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

“I want that kind of hype around players in the women’s game where we’re creating that style of brand that people want to watch.”

At Sale, she hopes she has found the stage to do that.

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

Aitchison’s England team-mate Amy Cokayne and Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd were also signed over the summer while England’s Morweena Talling and the United States’ all-action lock Erica Jarrell-Searcy are part of an exciting back five in the pack.

Sale co-owner Michelle Orange had earmarked this season, after the Rugby World Cup, as a chance to lure some of England’s players back to the north and strengthen a struggling team.

Aitchison, born and raised on Merseyside, was a top target.

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

“She is a perfect fit coming in. We are so lucky to have Katy Daley-Mclean – one of England’s best ever fly-halves – heading up our women’s programme and Holly follows in her mould.

Showing teenage prospects in the north west of England there is a route to the top that doesn’t involve the big road south was one of Aitchison’s motivations.

Another is to shape Sale’s direction on the pitch.

“Coming to the end of the season at Bristol, I really needed a change because I didn’t identify with the system,” said Aitchison.

“I am ready to play a brand that I can have a bit of an influence on now.

“[Head coach] Tom Hudson, who I am really inspired by, is driving a bit of a collaborative programme.”

So far, it is yielding results.

Sale, who won only one of their 16 matches in the league last season, beat Leicester 46-17 in front of a sell-out home crowd on the opening weekend of PWR, before taking a losing bonus point away at Loughborough Lightning, a game they lost 36-17 last term.

They play Trailfinders Women on Saturday and, with the rest of the round’s matches taking place on Sunday, could go top with a win.

“We still have a long way to go to catch up with the established teams, but we are making strides,” said Orange.