Emily Scarratt: England’s 11-Time Six Nations Champion Calls It a Career

After 17 years of representing England with distinction, Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from playing rugby at age 35. The accomplished centre concludes her career with impressive statistics: 119 international caps, 754 points as England’s all-time leading scorer, and two World Cup championships. Her decision to retire removes one of the most recognizable figures in women’s rugby from competitive play.
Since her debut in 2008, Scarratt has been at the forefront of England’s dominance in European rugby. She contributed to an extraordinary 11 Six Nations championship victories, establishing herself as one of the tournament’s most successful players. Her unprecedented achievement of competing in five World Cups sets her apart in English rugby history, demonstrating sustained excellence few athletes in any sport achieve. This remarkable longevity across multiple tournament cycles required exceptional physical conditioning and continuous tactical development.
Scarratt’s career reached its peak at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where she delivered performances that secured her legendary status. She finished as the competition’s leading scorer with 70 points and earned player of the final recognition as England won the championship. These displays remain benchmarks for excellence in tournament rugby. Her continued brilliance culminated in the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award, recognizing her as the world’s finest player.
The talented back also made her mark in sevens rugby. As captain of Great Britain, she led the team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, competing on sport’s biggest stage. She won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018, demonstrating her ability to excel in both formats of the game. At club level, she represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning with distinction, earning admiration for her professionalism and dedication.
Retirement from playing marks the beginning of Scarratt’s coaching journey. She will join Loughborough Lightning’s coaching staff as an assistant for the next season and has also accepted a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the RFU. In her retirement statement, Scarratt spoke with pride about being part of women’s rugby’s transformation into a professional sport and expressed gratitude for the ability 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 standards that defined an era of English rugby excellence.