Emily Scarratt Retires: English Rugby Legend Hangs Up Boots

English rugby legend, Emily Scarratt, has announced her retirement from the sport. The outstanding player, 35 years old, leaves an indelible legacy after a 17-year career. Scarratt, a two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, was a key figure in the 2014 triumph and played a pivotal role in the Red Roses’ victory in September 2025.

It’s an incredible privilege to wear the England shirt and represent my country for so many years. Rugby has given me everything; incredible teammates, memories and experiences that I will carry with me forever.

Emily Scarratt

England coach John Mitchell described her as a “once-in-a-generation player”, while RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney called her a “role model for thousands of people”. Scarratt retires as one of England’s best players, with a career spanning 17 years at the top of the sport. She debuted for England in 2008 and accumulated 119 international matches. She has been a key figure in England’s dominance in women’s rugby in the northern hemisphere, winning 11 Six Nations titles. In addition, she captained Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympics and won bronze at the Commonwealth Games with England in 2018. In 2019, she was named World Rugby Player of the Year and is the all-time top scorer for the Red Roses, with a total of 754 points, including 54 tries, 158 conversions, and 56 penalties. It also holds a unique place in English rugby history, in both the men’s and women’s branches. She is the first player to compete in five World Cups, a feat she achieved by coming off the bench in the Red Roses’ opening match against the United States in August 2025. Scarratt expressed her gratitude and emotion upon making the decision to retire, highlighting the privilege of representing her country and the positive impact that rugby has had on her life.

Scarratt also emphasized the transformation of women’s rugby from amateur to professional, an achievement of which she is immensely proud. Scarratt will now take on a specialist coaching and mentoring role with the RFU, whose focus will be to “support the development of players in England’s pathways and help nurture the next generation of talent”. The Red Roses coach, John Mitchell, added: “Emily is a once-in-a-generation player. Her quality, her composure under pressure, and her ability to lead by example set the standard for everyone around her.” The RFU’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, said: “Emily’s contribution to English rugby cannot be overstated; on and off the field she has been a model professional, a leader and a role model for thousands of girls who have taken up the ball thanks to her. We are delighted that she will remain part of the English rugby family next season and that she will continue to help shape its future.”