It has been a whirlwind 2014 for England Women’s star Emily Scarratt. The 24 year old started the year as a P.E. assistant in Birmingham and will end it as a world champion.
It was fourth time lucky for the girls of the red rose as they rectified their trio of final defeats to New Zealand with a 21-9 victory over Canada in August.
Now having had time to reflect on her and her teammates’ achievements, Scarratt admits that it is all still a surreal memory.
She said: “I don’t think it has properly hit me. As soon as that final whistle goes there is complete euphoria around the fact you have won and you have done it. But waiting for it to properly sink in – I still don’t think it has happened.”
“It was almost a relief, like one big breath out. It had happened. We had worked so hard for it as had everybody else, having not being able to do it for so many years. Then finally we had done it.”
Scarratt, who contributed 16 points to England’s final triumph, is one of the 20 players to have been given a full-time sevens contract, a huge milestone for the Women’s game and a huge lifestyle change for the girls involved.
She said: “It has been a bit of a transition to be completely honest because it is so different to what we were used to. We now get far more free time than we have ever had which sounds silly but you don’t really know what to do with that!
“It is amazing to be able to go and work and do that side of things properly and put very effort in to it and be able to come home and rest properly as well. Obviously it is huge. It is the first time in this country that a group of English women’s rugby players have gone full time and professional so it is a massive step for our game.
“We hope this is the start of a movement and that many more people can go ahead and become professional and that it is broadened to the fifteens game as well.”
It has not always been a smooth ride for Scarratt, who, like others, has faced hostility for being a girl in a male dominated sport. This is something however she hopes will change with the win and move into professionalism, encouraging girls to do what they love.
She said: “I think you’ve just got to stay true to yourself. I always knew that I loved playing sport and playing rugby. Not everyone is going to agree with it or understand what you do but as long as you’re enjoying it and have a passion for it, then forget everyone else.”
It is not just in rugby circles that the 50-cap international has been receiving recognition. Scarratt has been nominated for the BT Sport action woman of the year awards, which looks to honour the achievements in what has been a remarkable 12 months for women’s sport.
Other nominees for the award include England’s cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, European 10,000 metre gold medalist Jo Pavey and record breaking world champion rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.
“To me it is completely ridiculous. When you see some of the other names that are on that list, what they have achieved, they are full-on household names. It is a bit crazy to be among them.
“I am obviously hugely honoured to be on the list and be recognised and represent ultimately what we did as a team. It is very difficult to single out individuals in what was a big team effort so I will be going there on behalf of the team.”
But which of her teammates does Scarratt see as her action woman of the year?
“I think somebody like Sarah Hunter, our number eight and vice captain. She is a phenomenal player and the thing about her is she will always do all the unseen work. Whereas I kick the goals and do the prettier stuff almost, she allows me to do all of that and rarely gets plaudits for it. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to do it, but she does and makes life a whole lot easier for backs like myself to go and play.”
The end may be nearing on a remarkable 2014 for Emily Scarratt but it is only the beginning of an exciting future not only for herself but for women’s rugby as a whole.
By Louise Warr (@Louise_Warr)
Emily Scarratt is a nominee for the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Award. To see the rest of the nominees and vote for your winner visit btsport.com/actionwoman. Find out who wins when Clare Balding presents the award in a special hour long show on Tuesday 10th December at 19:30 on BT Sport 1.