It was Scarratt’s only game time of the campaign, but she says she feels that her contribution on the sidelines and around the camp was just as crucial as her more obvious involvement in four previous World Cups.
“I genuinely really enjoyed the whole tournament, obviously I am a rugby player and therefore want to play rugby, but this tournament was slightly different and my role was not probably never going to be front and centre of playing,” she said.
“I always have tried to be the team player, but for such a long period of my career I was always starting, therefore I think it is a lot harder to show it.
“But it has always been quite important to me to be able to show the strength of a team is the entire team, no matter what role you have within that.”
Left out of the matchday squad, Scarratt frequently carried the water bottles for the Red Roses as they closed in on victory.
She had the role for the final in front of 81,885 fans as England successfully saw off Canada to win the World Cup once more.
“I was very conscious of keeping an eye on the clock and doing my job, but there was a point with about 30 seconds to go when I was on the radio,” she remembered.
“I looked up to the coaches boxes and probably said a few expletives along with ‘we’re world champions’.
“That feeling in that stadium, it was unbelievable. I never thought I would experience something like that, because I didn’t see it happening in our game.
“To be at home, to be successful in front of that many people – I was very glassy eyed at the end… and probably also because I knew it was going to be the end [for me] as well.”
In the aftermath of England’s victory, it was reported that R360 – a proposed new global series involving top players – had contacted England stars to recruit them as figurehead signings for the inaugural 2026 edition., external
The Rugby Football Union, in coordination with other leading nations, subsequently banned any R360 players from representing their national sides.
“I don’t know if I should be offended, but I definitely wasn’t approached to play in it!” Scarratt joked.
“Potentially for the women’s game, it is slightly different to the men’s – we are constantly looking for investment and financial support.
“It is going to be an interesting time with players deciding whether international stuff or the lure of potential money [is the right choice for them]. I’d love there to be a place for it all.”
Scarratt will continue her involvement in the game as an assistant coach for Loughborough Lightning, a television pundit, a podcast presenter and working with the RFU on the development of young talent.
