Emily Scarratt: England’s Two-Time World Cup Champion Retires at 35

Emily Scarratt has brought her distinguished playing career to an end, announcing retirement at 35 after 17 years representing England. The accomplished centre’s career highlights include 119 international caps, two World Cup championships, and 754 points that establish her as England’s all-time leading scorer. Her retirement marks the conclusion of one of the most successful careers in rugby union history.
Scarratt’s journey began with her England debut in 2008, starting what would become a career defined by consistent excellence. She was an integral part of England’s Six Nations dominance, contributing to 11 championship victories that reflected the team’s superiority in European rugby. Her unprecedented achievement of participating in five World Cups distinguishes her from all other English players. This remarkable longevity across multiple tournament cycles demonstrates sustained world-class performance that is exceptionally rare in professional sport.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup stands as the pinnacle of Scarratt’s individual achievements. She dominated the tournament, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 70 points while also earning player of the final recognition in England’s championship victory. These performances remain among the finest individual displays in World Cup history, showcasing her ability to excel under the most intense pressure. Her continued excellence earned her the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award, recognizing her as the sport’s premier performer.
Beyond the traditional game, Scarratt also excelled in rugby sevens. She captained Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leading the team at the world’s most prestigious multi-sport event. She added a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2018 with England’s sevens squad, demonstrating versatility across formats. Her club career with Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning was equally distinguished, building a reputation as a consummate professional.
As she transitions from playing, Scarratt will remain actively involved in rugby through coaching. 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, sharing her knowledge with developing players. In her retirement announcement, Scarratt spoke with pride about witnessing women’s rugby’s evolution into a professional sport and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step away on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell paid tribute to her as a generational talent whose leadership and quality set benchmarks that elevated the entire program.