A world title and then retirement. That is how the fabulous career of England full-back Emily Scarratt came to an end. The 35-year-old announced her retirement on Tuesday, having left her mark on the history of women’s rugby.

World player of the year in 2019, player of the Six Nations in 2012 and 2020, the Leicester native played in five World Cup finals and won two of them, the first in 2014 and the second in 2025. Her country’s leading points scorer with 754 points, the versatile back boasts one of the finest honours lists in the game.

“Phenomenal career”

On her Instagram post announcing the end of her career, several former players such as compatriots Danny Care and Ugo Monye, as well as former Springbok star Bryan Habana, responded.

“An inspiration in so many ways! Thank you for giving so much to this sport, for not only making young girls (and boys) fall in love with it, but also for inspiring a whole new generation! Congratulations on a phenomenal career“, the latter wrote.