Emily Scarratt’s Remarkable 17-Year Run with England Comes to Close

Emily Scarratt has announced the end of her playing career after 17 years representing England at the highest level. The 35-year-old centre earned 119 caps and won two World Cups while establishing herself as the Red Roses’ all-time leading scorer with 754 points, and will now transition into coaching roles.
Since making her debut in 2008, Scarratt became synonymous with English rugby excellence. She played a crucial role in England winning 11 Six Nations titles and created history by becoming the only English player to compete in five World Cups. Her sustained performance at the elite level across multiple tournament cycles demonstrates her remarkable consistency and quality.
Scarratt represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning at club level, and she’ll continue her association with Loughborough as an assistant coach. She has also accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring position with the RFU for the current season, where she’ll share her vast experience with developing players in the English system.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup represented Scarratt’s finest tournament performance. She earned player of the final honors and topped the scoring charts with 70 points, delivering exceptional displays throughout the competition. These performances helped England win the championship and established Scarratt as one of the world’s premier players. Her 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award confirmed this elite status.
Beyond the traditional 15-player format, Scarratt 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 statement, she expressed pride in contributing to women’s rugby’s evolution from amateur to professional and gratitude for stepping away on her own terms. She’s excited about helping shape the sport’s future through her new coaching and mentoring roles.