Emily Scarratt has officially retired from professional rugby at 35, bringing to a close a 17-year international career that redefined excellence in women’s rugby. The celebrated centre’s final statistics tell the story of sustained brilliance: 119 England caps, two World Cup triumphs, and 754 points that stand as a national record. Her retirement removes one of rugby’s most recognizable figures from the playing field, though her impact on the sport will resonate for decades.
Scarratt’s England career commenced in 2008, beginning a journey that would see her become the face of the women’s game. She was integral to England’s period of dominance in the Six Nations, contributing to 11 tournament victories that established the team as European rugby’s powerhouse. Her unique achievement of participating in five World Cups distinguishes her from every other player in English rugby history. This extraordinary longevity required not just talent but exceptional dedication to maintaining peak physical condition and continually evolving her game across different eras.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup represented the apex of Scarratt’s playing achievements. She delivered a masterclass throughout the tournament, accumulating 70 points to finish as the competition’s leading scorer while also claiming player of the final honors in England’s championship victory. Her performances during that tournament are considered among the greatest individual campaigns in the history of rugby World Cups. Such consistent excellence over many years earned her the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award, recognizing her as the finest player in the global game.
Her versatility saw her achieve success across multiple formats of rugby. As captain of Great Britain’s sevens team, she competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing her nation at the pinnacle of international sport. She added a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2018 with England’s sevens squad, demonstrating her ability to excel in both the traditional and abbreviated versions of the game. At club level, her service to Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning was exemplary, establishing her as a role model for professionalism and commitment.
Scarratt’s retirement from playing signals the beginning of her coaching career rather than a departure from rugby. She will serve as an assistant coach with Loughborough Lightning next season, sharing her knowledge with current players. Additionally, the RFU has appointed her to a specialist coaching and mentoring role, ensuring her vast experience benefits the next generation of English rugby talent. In her retirement message, Scarratt spoke movingly about her pride in witnessing women’s rugby’s journey to professionalism and her gratitude for the opportunity to retire on her own terms. John Mitchell, England’s head coach, praised her as a generational talent whose leadership and quality set the standard for all who followed.