Emily Scarratt, a member of England’s World Cup winning team in 2014, has decided to extend her contract with Loughborough Lightning for the upcoming season. The 34-year-old center, who has represented the Red Roses 111 times, has been with Loughborough since 2019 and has played 40 games for the club. Despite missing the beginning of the 2023-24 season due to neck surgery, Scarratt returned to action in February and was quickly called up to the national team for the Six Nations tournament.
Scarratt expressed her excitement about being back on the field and shared her enthusiasm for being involved in coaching with Loughborough. She is thrilled to be part of the team’s continuous growth and is looking forward to contributing to their success in the upcoming season. Lightning’s head coach, Nathan Smith, spoke highly of Scarratt’s experience and knowledge, stating that the club is lucky to have her in their ranks. He emphasized the importance of retaining a player of Scarratt’s caliber and expressed his delight in continuing to work with her.
Smith described Scarratt as a valuable asset to the team, noting that her presence will greatly benefit Lightning as they strive to improve and achieve success in the upcoming season. By securing Scarratt’s services, the club has made a significant statement about their ambitions and commitment to building a strong team. Scarratt’s decision to stay with Loughborough is seen as a positive development for both the player and the club as they work towards achieving their goals together.
The signing of Emily Scarratt marks an important milestone for Loughborough Lightning as they continue their journey towards becoming one of England’s top rugby teams. With her wealth of experience and talent on board, Lightning are well positioned to challenge for honors next season and continue their upward trajectory in domestic competition.
Nathan Smith was thrilled at the news that Emily Scarratt would be returning once again this year after missing out on much of last season due to injury. “Emily is an exceptional player,” he said “She brings so much experience and knowledge to our squad – we are incredibly fortunate she wanted to stay here.”
Scarratt herself was equally excited at rejoining Lightning this year after recovering from neck surgery earlier this year. “I can’t wait,” she said “It’s been tough not playing last year but I’m feeling great now – it’s time for me get back out there.”
As well as making a big impact on on-field performance, Emily also takes pride in helping develop future talent through coaching at Loughborough University Students Union (LUSU). Her passion for teaching young players shines through during training sessions where she imparts wisdom gained from years at international level.
“Coaching is something I really enjoy,” she said “It’s important that we give young players every opportunity possible – I love seeing them develop into skilled rugby players.”
