Emily Scarratt’s Stellar Career: 119 Caps, 754 Points, Countless Memories

One of England’s most decorated rugby players has called time on her career. Emily Scarratt, 35, announced her retirement after 17 years that saw her earn 119 caps, win two World Cups, and become the Red Roses’ all-time leading scorer with 754 points. She will now focus on coaching at both club and international level.
Scarratt made her England debut in 2008 and quickly became indispensable to the team’s success. She played a central role in helping the Red Roses win 11 Six Nations titles and achieved the remarkable feat of competing in five World Cups – something no other English player has accomplished. This consistency across multiple tournament cycles demonstrates her sustained excellence.
The centre represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning at club level, and she’ll maintain her connection with Loughborough as an assistant coach. She has also accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the RFU for the current season, where she’ll work with developing players and share insights from her extensive international experience.
Scarratt’s crowning achievement came at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where she dominated the tournament. She was named player of the final and finished as leading scorer with 70 points, performances that were instrumental in England winning the championship. Five years later, her world-class form earned her the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Her versatility extended to sevens rugby, where she captained Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics to a fourth-place finish and won a Commonwealth Games bronze with England sevens in 2018. England head coach John Mitchell described her as a once-in-a-generation player whose quality, composure, and leadership set standards for everyone. Scarratt expressed pride in witnessing women’s rugby’s professionalization and excitement about continuing to contribute through coaching.