After 17 years of representing England across multiple formats and competitions, Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from playing rugby at age 35. The accomplished centre’s career statistics include 119 international caps in the 15-a-side format, 754 points as England’s record holder, and two World Cup championships. Her ability to excel in both fifteens and sevens rugby, at club and international level, makes her one of the sport’s most versatile performers.
Scarratt’s international career began in 2008, and her versatility became evident early on. While contributing to 11 Six Nations championship victories in the traditional format, she simultaneously developed her sevens game. Her achievement of competing in five World Cups in fifteens rugby while also excelling at sevens demonstrates remarkable adaptability. Few players have managed to maintain elite standards across both formats, requiring different physical demands and tactical approaches.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup showcased Scarratt’s mastery of the 15-a-side game. She finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 70 points and earned player of the final honors as England won the championship. Yet she could seamlessly transition to sevens, as evidenced by captaining Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics and winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018. This versatility earned her the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
At club level, she represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning with the same versatility, adapting to different team structures and playing styles while maintaining high standards. Her ability to perform across multiple formats and environments made her an invaluable asset to every team she represented.
As she retires from playing, Scarratt’s versatility will benefit her coaching career. She has been appointed as an assistant coach with Loughborough Lightning for the next season and will also work with the RFU in a specialist coaching and mentoring role. In her retirement message, Scarratt expressed pride in being part of women’s rugby’s transformation into a professional sport and gratitude for the privilege of retiring on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell paid tribute to her as a once-in-a-generation player whose versatility and quality set standards that elevated the entire sport.