Emily Scarratt will hope to write another chapter in her storied career on Saturday, but ahead of England’s Women’s Six Nations 2021 decider against France she has been reminiscing about some of her former glories.
In the first episode of Jersey Tales, a new YouTube series from World Rugby, Scarratt takes viewers on a journey through her rugby career via the shirts she wore on the pitch.
Starting at the club she joined as a five-year-old, Leicester Forest East RFC, Scarratt opens up about the stories behind some of her career highlights.
From winning over the boys at her first club to training “under candlelight” at Lichfield and earning her first England call-up while on holiday in Cyprus, the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year 2019 gives fans an insight into her journey to the top.
The high-point of Scarratt’s career arguably came seven years ago when her try helped England win Rugby World Cup 2014.
But, as she reveals in Jersey Tales, the joy she felt in Paris was heightened by the “heartbreaking” experience England had gone through in losing the Rugby World Cup final on home soil four years earlier.
“It was one of the first tournaments when people actually started to get behind women’s rugby,” Scarratt said.
“The amount of people who came to the semi-final and final at Twickenham Stoop was just unreal. I remember sitting on the bus prior to the final, when we’d just arrived at the stadium, and I could just hear noise.
“My stomach dropped — in a really good way. But, I’d just never experienced that before and never felt that support.
“So, post the final whistle there were a lot of the older girls in tears, naturally really upset about the result, but it made me realise how hard I had to work if I wanted to go out and achieve something.
“It was a definite turning point in my career.”
To find out how Scarratt felt when she got to lift the trophy four years later in Paris, as well as watching Usain Bolt get mobbed at Rio 2016 and captaining England in the Women’s Six Nations, watch the video above.
And, don’t forget to check the official World Rugby YouTube channel for a new episode every Thursday.