The women’s rugby scene is experiencing a surge in popularity, evident from the growing Instagram followings of top female rugby stars.
In 2023, women’s rugby saw remarkable growth at all levels, with record numbers of players lacing up their boots and fans filling the stands. This surge was fueled by thrilling on-field events.
Following the success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021, the sport has continued to expand over the past year, achieving record attendances worldwide and providing more teams with meaningful matches through WXV.
Official World Rugby statistics reflect this positive trend, showing a seven percent increase in the global female playing population, now nearing two million. The number of active registered female players has risen by 33.9 percent to 319,966, and female participation has jumped by 53.2 percent.
We’ve compiled a list of the top five most-followed female rugby players on Instagram, highlighting the biggest stars in the game today.
#1. HOLLY AITCHISON
Given Holly’s familial background with her father Ian being a former England U20 and Saxons player as well as Waterloo’s director of rugby, it made perfect sense for her to pursue rugby.
Aitchison herself boasts an impressive resume, having represented England in various capacities, including age-grade levels, the HSBC World Sevens Series, and even at the Olympic Games for Team GB.
Joining Saracens in 2020 marked the beginning of her remarkable journey, highlighted by scoring a try during her England 15s debut in 2021. This momentum carried her to the starting lineup for the 2021 Rugby World Cup final and secured her a spot in Simon Middleton’s Six Nations squad in 2023.
Demonstrating her prowess, she played a pivotal role in the Red Roses’ victorious campaign at the inaugural WXV1 tournament in New Zealand. Now, Holly’s achievements continue to flourish as she recently earned a place in John Mitchell’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.