Emily Scarratt has officially retired from professional rugby at 35, bringing to a close a 17-year international career that traced her evolution from promising youngster to legendary figure. The centre’s journey includes 119 England caps, 754 points as the nation’s all-time leading scorer, and two World Cup victories. Her transformation from debut player in 2008 to one of rugby’s greatest-ever performers represents an inspiring career arc.
Scarratt’s England career began in 2008 when she was a relatively unknown player with immense potential. Over the following years, she developed into an indispensable member of the squad, contributing to 11 Six Nations championship victories. Her unprecedented achievement of participating in five World Cups allowed observers to witness her evolution across different stages of her career—from promising talent to established star to veteran leader. This development showcased her commitment to continuous improvement.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup marked Scarratt’s arrival as a truly world-class player. She finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 70 points and earned player of the final recognition as England secured the championship. Her performances showcased a player at the peak of her powers. By 2019, when she received the World Rugby Player of the Year award, she had evolved into the complete player—combining technical brilliance with tactical intelligence and leadership.
Her versatility saw her excel in sevens rugby as well. She captained Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018. Throughout her career at Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning, she maintained the same commitment to development that characterized her international journey.
Appropriately, Scarratt’s next chapter involves helping others develop as she did. She has accepted an assistant coaching role with Loughborough Lightning for the upcoming season and will also work with the RFU in a specialist coaching and mentoring capacity. In her retirement statement, Scarratt expressed pride in being part of women’s rugby’s transformation into a professional sport and gratitude for the opportunity to retire on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell described her as a once-in-a-generation player whose evolution from prospect to legend established a template for future players.