Emily Scarratt: England’s Olympic Captain Retires After 17-Year Career

Emily Scarratt has officially retired from professional rugby at 35, bringing to a close a 17-year international career that saw her become England’s most accomplished player. The legendary centre finishes with 119 caps, 754 points as the nation’s all-time leading scorer, and two World Cup victories. Her retirement removes one of rugby’s most recognizable and decorated figures from the playing field.
From her 2008 debut, Scarratt established herself as an essential component of England’s success. She contributed to 11 Six Nations championship victories, demonstrating remarkable consistency across multiple tournament cycles. Her unprecedented participation in five World Cups sets her apart in English rugby history, showcasing sustained world-class performance across nearly two decades. This achievement required exceptional physical conditioning, continuous tactical development, and the mental strength to compete at the elite level year after year.
Scarratt’s career-defining moment came at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where she delivered a tournament performance for the ages. She finished as the competition’s top scorer with 70 points and was named player of the final as England claimed the championship. Her performances throughout that tournament are regarded as among the greatest individual displays in World Cup history. Recognition for her sustained excellence came with the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award, confirming her status as the sport’s finest performer.
The versatile centre also excelled in sevens rugby. She captained Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leading the team on the world’s biggest sporting stage—an honor few athletes experience. She added a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018, demonstrating her ability to succeed across different formats. At club level, she represented Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning with distinction, maintaining high standards throughout her domestic career.
As she steps away from playing, Scarratt begins her coaching journey. She has accepted an assistant coaching position with Loughborough Lightning for the next season and will also work with the RFU in a specialist coaching and mentoring capacity. In her retirement statement, Scarratt spoke with pride about witnessing women’s rugby’s evolution into a professional sport and expressed gratitude for the privilege of retiring on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell described her as a once-in-a-generation player whose leadership and quality set standards that will resonate throughout English rugby for years to come.