Emily Scarratt commits future to Loughborough Lightning

Loughborough Lightning are delighted to confirm that Red Roses star Emily Scarratt has extended her contract with the Club.

The 111-times capped international has opted to prolong her stay with the African Violets for the 2024/25 campaign.

Scarratt made her return to action in February against Bristol Bears after more than year out following a neck injury and subsequent surgery. The 34-year-old was brought back into the England squad for the 2024 Six Nations and featured in three Tests as John Mitchell’s side secured a Grand Slam.

The former Lichfield back made her Lightning debut in January 2019 against Worcester Valkyries and on the final match of the 2023/24 Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby season, she moved to 40 appearances against Saracens Women.

Scarratt also added to her career points total of 255 - which is the most in Lightning’s history - and she looks set to add to that number in the 2024/25 campaign, which is followed by the 2025 Rugby World Cup that is being staged in England with cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens amongst the eight host venues.

Her name was recently included alongside Lightning teammates Helena Rowland, Cath O’Donnell and Sadia Kabeya as contracted England players for next season, as Scarratt prepares for what would be her fifth World Cup, having lifted the trophy in 2014 and picked up runners-up medals in 2017 and 2021.

“We are building all the time at Lightning and I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of that process,” said Scarratt. “Both as a player and as a coach, I feel that this is the right environment for me to continue my rugby journey.

“On a personal level, it has been incredible feeling for me to get back out there on the pitch in the past few months. I am really enjoying my rugby again and I hope that is reflected in my performances on the pitch.”

Alongside her playing duties, Scarratt is also a key member of the Lightning coaching team and is proving to be an invaluable asset to head coach Nathan Smith.

“It is just great to have Scaz in the environment,” said Smith. “I really value her opinion as a rugby player but also as a rugby coach. She does a lot of work within the programme to develop the young high-potential players that we have. 

“I am really fortunate just to have someone in the programme with her calibre of knowledge and she is not afraid to challenge my opinion which is only going to be for the betterment of Lightning.

“From a playing perspective, since her injury, it has been what I’d class to be a restart for her. What we have seen in the last four games of the season was the Scaz that we know is still there. Playing within the Lightning team, the players we have recruited and the young players that are coming through I can only see Scaz going from strength to strength with us.

“It is a big statement for the club to make to retain someone like Scaz. She is someone who has no shortage of interest, so we are delighted to retain her services.”

Scarratt follows Kathryn Treder, Helen Nelson, ​Rachel Malcolm, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Megan Davey, Sadia Kabeya, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Lilli Ives Campion, Catherine O’Donnell, Carmela Morrall and Lia Green on extending their contracts into the 2024/25 - with more re-signings to be announced in the coming weeks.

Lightning have also confirmed their first two signings of the summer with Alev Kelter and Alicia Maude teaming up with Loughborough next term.

Loughborough Lightning season tickets for the 2024/24 Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby season are available now priced from just £40* adults and £20* children. For more information, please click HERE.