Emily Scarratt: The Leader Who Captained Great Britain to Olympic Glory

After 17 years of representing England with distinction, Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from playing rugby at age 35. The accomplished centre’s career highlights include 119 international caps, 754 points as England’s all-time leading scorer, and two World Cup championships. Beyond statistics, her leadership qualities saw her captain Great Britain at the Olympics, demonstrating her ability to inspire and guide teammates at the highest level.
Scarratt’s international career began in 2008, and her leadership abilities became evident early in her journey. She contributed to 11 Six Nations championship victories, often serving as a voice of experience and calm under pressure. Her achievement of competing in five World Cups remains unique in English rugby history, with each tournament seeing her take on greater leadership responsibilities. This sustained presence allowed her to mentor younger players while maintaining elite performance standards.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup showcased both Scarratt’s individual brilliance and leadership capabilities. She finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 70 points and earned player of the final recognition as England secured the championship. Her ability to lead by example, delivering crucial performances when the team needed them most, defined her career. The 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award recognized not just her skill but her influence on teammates and opponents alike.
Her leadership reached its zenith when she captained Great Britain’s sevens team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Representing her nation on the world’s biggest sporting stage while wearing the captain’s armband represented the ultimate honor. She also won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with England sevens in 2018. At club level, her leadership at Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning helped develop countless players who benefited from her guidance.
As she transitions into coaching, Scarratt’s leadership will continue shaping rugby’s future. She has accepted an assistant coaching position with Loughborough Lightning for the upcoming season and will also work with the RFU in a specialist coaching and mentoring capacity. In her retirement message, Scarratt expressed pride in witnessing women’s rugby’s evolution into a professional sport and gratitude for the privilege of retiring on her own terms. England head coach John Mitchell paid tribute to her as a once-in-a-generation player whose leadership and quality established standards that will influence the sport for years to come.