Lightning and England legend Emily Scarratt has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Since retiring from professional rugby in October 2025, Scarratt has continued her involvement with Loughborough Lightning as an assistant coach, as well as helping lead the Red Roses to another Six Nations Grand Slam as attack coach.
Red Roses’ all-time leading points scorer Scarratt had an outstanding 17-year playing career at the top of the game. She earned 119 Red Roses caps, won two World Cups, lifted 11 Six Nations titles, represented Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics as captain, and claimed Commonwealth bronze with England Sevens.
She has played a key part of both the Lightning and the Red Roses’ coaching team, helping reshape and evolve England’s attack as they earned a fifth consecutive Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam, and eighth title in a row.
Away from the field, the 2019 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year has played a pivotal role in raising the profile of women’s rugby as co-host of the award-winning podcast The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby.
The 36-year-old signed off her illustrious playing career as a part of the England squad that lifted the 2025 Rugby World Cup on home soil last summer.
It was Scarratt’s fifth Rugby World Cup – a record for an English rugby player across both the men’s and women’s games – and her second winners’ medal following her maiden triumph in 2014. That is in addition to her 11 Six Nations titles achieved across a glittering 17-year international career that saw her amass 119 Red Roses caps and be named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year in 2019.
Scarratt underwent major neck surgery in September 2023 that saw her miss 13 months of action, but she recovered to make her return to Lightning colours against Bristol Bears in February 2024. She called time on her career with 53 appearances and 305 points for Loughborough under her belt – which was a club record until Helena Rowland recently surpassed that number.
“Every moment and memory in the game has been shaped by the people around me,” she continued. “Rugby wouldn't be the same without the volunteers, coaches, teammates, staff and supporters who give so much to the sport. The lifelong friendships and experiences rugby has given me are something I will never take for granted, and I'm proud to share this recognition with everyone who has been part of that journey."
Red Roses head coach, John Mitchell OBE, said: “Emily is a truly deserving recipient of this honour, having made an outstanding contribution to our sport over an extended period. Thousands of women, young girls and boys have benefited from her example as a role model, and there is no doubt that her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Red Roses for many years to come.”
Alongside Scarratt, England men’s Assistant Coach and MND fundraiser Kevin Sinfield has been awarded a Knighthood and 2014 World Cup-winning coach Gary Street has been honoured with an MBE.