England Rugby Icon Emily Scarratt Retires to Pursue Coaching Career

After 17 years of outstanding service to English rugby, Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from playing. The 35-year-old centre, who earned 119 caps and won two World Cups with England, will now focus on coaching and mentoring roles at both club and international level.
Scarratt’s career statistics paint the picture of a truly exceptional player. She retires as England’s all-time leading points-scorer with 754 points while ranking third in both caps and tries. Her 11 Six Nations titles demonstrate her role in England’s sustained dominance of European rugby. Most remarkably, she became the only English player to compete in five World Cups, a record that reflects her longevity and consistent high-level performance.
The centre’s crowning achievement came at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where she was named player of the final and topped the tournament scoring charts with 70 points. This exceptional performance helped England win the title and established Scarratt as one of the world’s premier players. Five years later, she received the ultimate individual recognition when crowned World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.
Scarratt’s versatility saw her excel in sevens rugby as well. She captained Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the team finished fourth, and won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with England sevens. Her ability to perform at the highest level in both formats showcased her well-rounded skill set and deep understanding of the game.
In announcing her retirement, Scarratt expressed pride in being part of women’s rugby’s evolution from amateur to professional. She thanked her family, coaches, teammates, and fans for their support throughout her journey. Looking forward, she’s excited to remain involved with the sport through assistant coaching at Loughborough Lightning and a specialist coaching and mentoring position with the RFU. England head coach John Mitchell described her as a once-in-a-generation player whose impact extended far beyond the field.