Emily Scarratt Steps Down: The End of an Iconic England Career

Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from international rugby at 35, bringing to a close a 17-year career that established her as one of England’s greatest players. The centre earned 119 caps and won two World Cups while accumulating 754 points – more than any other player in Red Roses history.
Since her 2008 debut, Scarratt became a fixture in England’s success story. She helped the Red Roses secure 11 Six Nations championships and became the only English player to compete in five World Cups. Her reliability, skill, and leadership made her one of the first names on the team sheet throughout her career, regardless of coaching changes or tactical evolutions.
Scarratt will remain involved in rugby through assistant coaching at Loughborough Lightning, where she played at club level. She has also accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring position with the RFU, ensuring her wealth of experience continues to benefit English rugby. Her transition from playing to coaching keeps her connected to the sport she has graced for nearly two decades.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup represented the pinnacle of Scarratt’s playing achievements. She earned player of the final honors and led all scorers with 70 points, delivering exceptional performances throughout the tournament. These displays helped England win the championship and established her as one of the premier players in world rugby. Her 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award further confirmed this status.
Scarratt also excelled in sevens rugby, captaining Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics and winning a Commonwealth Games bronze with England sevens in 2018. In her retirement statement, she expressed pride in contributing to women’s rugby’s transformation from amateur to professional and gratitude for stepping away on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell praised her as a once-in-a-generation player whose impact extended far beyond statistics.