Holly Aitchison: 10 facts about England’s Victoria’s Secret model dating Bristol Bears star

Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 18:50

bySteven Smith

Holly Aitchison will reach a major England milestone this weekend when the Red Roses star wins her 50th international cap.

The Sale Sharks fly-half has been named to start against Australia at the CorpAcq Stadium in Salford, partnering the returning Natasha Hunt in the half-backs.

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It is another landmark for the 28-year-old, who is already a World Cup winner and Olympian and has become one of the most recognisable players in the women's game.

Away from the pitch, Aitchison is dating Bristol Bears star Rich Lane, has modelled for Victoria's Secret and has spoken openly about anxiety and confidence.

Here are 10 things you might not know about the England star.

1. She wins her 50th England cap this weekend

Aitchison entered England's latest camp on 49 Test appearances and has now been selected to start against Australia on Saturday.

She will wear the number 10 shirt as John Mitchell's side begin their WXV Global Series campaign in Salford.

Her England journey began in 2021, when she marked her Test debut with a try.

2. She's dating Bristol Bears star Rich Lane

Aitchison is in a relationship with Bristol Bears winger Rich Lane.

The couple initially attracted attention after appearing together at Bristol's end-of-season awards, with England star Abby Dow joking about the apparent "soft launch" on social media.

Lane has been with Bristol since 2021 and has established himself as a regular in the Bears backline.

The relationship also provides an interesting club dynamic, with Aitchison leaving Bristol Bears Women to join Sale Sharks ahead of the 2025/26 season.

3. She's modelled for Victoria's Secret

Aitchison's profile extends well beyond rugby.

The Red Roses star has appeared in shoots for Victoria's Secret and The Sunday Times Magazine, while also securing a partnership with Adidas.

Aitchison has admitted that becoming a "poster girl" for the women's game hasn't always come naturally, but has spoken about a significant change in her confidence as her profile has grown.

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4. She previously dated England teammate Hannah Botterman

Before her relationship with Lane, Aitchison was in a long-term relationship with fellow England international Hannah Botterman.

Their careers repeatedly crossed paths, with the pair playing together at Saracens, Bristol Bears and for the Red Roses.

They have since gone their separate ways, with Aitchison moving north to Sale while prop Botterman remains with Bristol.

5. She's already a World Cup winner

Aitchison achieved the biggest prize in the game when England lifted the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

It was particularly sweet after the heartbreak of the previous tournament.

Aitchison had started the 2021 Rugby World Cup final, played in 2022 after the tournament was delayed by Covid, as England suffered an agonising defeat against hosts New Zealand.

Three years later, she finally got her hands on the trophy as part of John Mitchell's all-conquering Red Roses squad. Sale describe her as one of their World Cup-winning England stars.

6. She's an Olympian

Before becoming an established star of England's XVs side, Aitchison made her name in rugby sevens.

She represented Great Britain at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, where Team GB narrowly missed out on a medal after reaching the bronze-medal match.

Her background in the shortened format helped develop the handling, vision and attacking instincts that would eventually make her one of England's leading playmakers.

7. Rugby runs in the family

Aitchison started playing rugby at Waterloo as a youngster, and her father Ian played a significant part in her development.

He served as Waterloo's director of rugby while his daughter was coming through the ranks.

After Waterloo, Aitchison went on to play for Liverpool St Helens and Lichfield before her senior career eventually took her to Saracens.

8. She was identified as a star from a very young age

Aitchison's talent was apparent long before she became a household name with the Red Roses.

The Formby native progressed through the England age-grade system, representing her country at U18 and U20 level before establishing herself on the international sevens circuit.

Her rise eventually took her to the Olympics before she joined Saracens in 2020 and made the switch to the XV-a-side international game.

9. She's spoken openly about anxiety and confidence

Despite becoming one of the most marketable faces in English rugby, Aitchison has admitted that being in the spotlight hasn't always felt natural.

She has spoken candidly about her experiences with anxiety and the confidence journey she has been on.

Her growing profile – including the Victoria's Secret work and major commercial partnerships – has forced her outside her comfort zone.

Aitchison said she has experienced a significant "confidence shift", while embracing the opportunity to become a visible role model for young female players.

10. She made a huge career move to return home

After two seasons with Bristol Bears, Aitchison made the decision to head north and sign for Sale Sharks in 2025.

The move brought the Formby-raised star much closer to home, with Sale handing her a two-year contract.

Aitchison explained at the time that returning north was something she'd always wanted to do during her career, with inspiring the next generation of players in the region another major motivation.

She has since established herself as Sale's first-choice fly-half and has been awarded another Red Roses contract for the 2026/27 season.

Now a World Cup winner, Olympian, Victoria's Secret model and 50-cap Red Rose, Aitchison has built quite the CV – and there could be plenty more milestones still to come.