After 17 years of outstanding service, Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from international rugby at age 35. The England centre concludes her career with 119 caps, two World Cup titles, and 754 points – establishing her as the Red Roses’ all-time leading scorer.
Scarratt’s journey began in 2008 when she made her England debut, and she quickly became one of the team’s most valuable players. She helped England win 11 Six Nations championships and achieved the unique feat of competing in five World Cups. This remarkable consistency across nearly two decades speaks to her exceptional fitness, skill, and mental resilience.
The retiring star will remain involved in rugby through assistant coaching at Loughborough Lightning, where she played at club level alongside earlier service with Lichfield. She has also accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the RFU, ensuring her extensive knowledge continues to benefit English rugby for years to come.
At the 2014 Rugby World Cup, Scarratt produced one of the tournament’s all-time great performances. She was named player of the final and finished as leading scorer with 70 points, dominating matches with her complete skill set. Five years later, her world-class form earned her the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award, recognizing her as the best player on the planet.
Scarratt’s versatility saw her excel in sevens rugby as well, captaining Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics to fourth place and winning 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 and leadership set standards. Scarratt expressed gratitude for her career and pride in witnessing women’s rugby’s transformation into a professional sport.
Scarratt Era Ends: England’s Record-Breaking Centre Retires
