English rugby waves goodbye to one of its greatest players as Emily Scarratt announces her retirement at age 35. The centre concludes a 17-year international career that saw her accumulate 119 England caps, two World Cup titles, and 754 points – more than any other player in Red Roses history.
Scarratt made her England debut in 2008 and quickly became indispensable to the team’s success. Over her career, she helped England secure 11 Six Nations championships, forming the backbone of the most successful period in the women’s program’s history. Her achievement of competing in five World Cups stands alone in English rugby, with no other player matching this feat of longevity and sustained excellence.
At club level, Scarratt represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning with distinction. She will maintain her connection with Loughborough, joining their coaching staff as an assistant for the upcoming season. Additionally, she has accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the Rugby Football Union, where she’ll work with developing players and share her wealth of experience.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup showcased Scarratt at her absolute best. She dominated the tournament, earning player of the final honors and finishing as leading scorer with 70 points. These performances demonstrated her complete skill set: accurate goal-kicking, defensive solidity, attacking creativity, and the ability to perform under immense pressure. Her 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award further recognized her sustained excellence.
Scarratt’s talents weren’t limited to 15-a-side rugby. She captained Great Britain’s sevens team at the 2016 Rio Olympics to a fourth-place finish and won a Commonwealth Games bronze with England sevens in 2018. In her retirement announcement, she spoke emotionally about the privilege of representing England and witnessing the sport’s professionalization. She feels fortunate to retire on her own terms while remaining involved in shaping the game’s future through her new coaching roles.