England’s Emily Scarratt Retires: A Career of Championships and Records

At 35, Emily Scarratt has brought her playing days to a close, retiring after a 17-year international career that saw her become England’s most accomplished rugby player. The centre’s final career statistics include 119 caps, 754 points as the nation’s record holder, and two World Cup championships. Her departure from the playing field represents a watershed moment for English women’s rugby.
From her first appearance in 2008, Scarratt established herself as an indispensable member of the England squad. She contributed significantly to 11 Six Nations championship victories, demonstrating remarkable consistency and reliability. What truly distinguishes her career is participation in five World Cups—a feat unmatched by any other English player in the sport’s history. This sustained presence at the international level across multiple tournament cycles reflects exceptional physical conditioning and the ability to adapt to evolving game demands.
Scarratt’s defining achievement came at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where she produced a tournament performance for the ages. She topped the scoring charts with 70 points and received player of the final recognition as England claimed the title. Her ability to deliver in high-stakes matches became her trademark throughout her career. The 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award provided further recognition of her sustained excellence, acknowledging her as the world’s finest player.
The versatile centre also enjoyed success in sevens rugby. As captain of Great Britain, she competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leading the team on one of sport’s biggest stages. She won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018, showcasing her ability to excel across different formats. At club level, her service to Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning was exemplary, earning widespread respect for her commitment and professionalism.
Retirement from playing opens a new chapter focused on coaching and development. Scarratt will serve as an assistant coach with Loughborough Lightning next season and has also been appointed to a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the RFU. In her retirement announcement, Scarratt spoke with pride about being part of women’s rugby’s transformation into a professional sport and expressed gratitude for the privilege of making this decision on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell paid tribute to her as a generational talent whose leadership and quality set benchmarks that elevated the entire program.