Scarratt’s broken leg a big blow for England ahead of World Cup
LIGHTNING STAR AND RED ROSES VICE-CAPTAIN HAS OPERATION
ENGLAND’S preparations for next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand have been dealt a major blow after vice-captain Emily Scarratt underwent surgery on her broken leg.
Scarratt, of Desford, who was crowned World player of the Year in 2019 and is regarded as one of the best outside centres in the female game, suffered the injury during Loughborough Lightning’s Premier 15s season opener against Harlequins last Sunday.
The Rugby Football Union confirmed yesterday that Scarratt had undergone surgery on her leg and the operation “went well”.
In a statement, the RFU said: “Everyone at England Rugby sends their best wishes to Emily and wishes her a full and speedy recovery.
“On behalf of Emily, we’d like to thank England supporters and the wider rugby family for the messages of support we have received following Sunday’s match.”
Scarratt, who was playing flyhalf for Loughborough at Twickenham Stoop, left the field on a stretcher just minutes into the game, with her leg strapped in a medical boot.
The 31-year-old is likely to miss a series of crucial Tests this autumn which head coach Simon Middleton has earmarked as vital preparation ahead of next year’s delayed Rugby World Cup.
England face New Zealand at Sandy Park on October 31, which will be the first meeting between the two sides in over two years.
It will only be New Zealand’s third international since the pandemic, with the Black Ferns having not played a Test in the whole of 2020 because of the country’s stringent Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Middleton’s side will play New Zealand again in a second fixture at Franklin’s Gardens on November 7, before matches with world No.3 side Canada a week later and then United States on November 21.
Scarratt’s injury is not understood to be a career-ending one.
But it will cause a massive selection headache for Middleton, who has yet to settle on his starting flyhalf in light of Katy DaleyMcLean’s retirement.
Scarratt, above and right, is also one of the most experienced members of England’s squad – not to mention the side’s leading points scorer – and is seen as a key player if they are to reclaim the Rugby World Cup they last won in 2014.
It was in that encounter in Paris where Scarratt ‘s jinking run to the line late on in the game, beating five Canada defenders, sealed England’s triumph.
Captain of Team GB’s sevens side at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Scarratt committed herself to the XVs game in 2017 and was among 28 players to be awarded a professional contract from the RFU two years later.
“From a playing point of view, there isn’t much that Scaz can’t do,” Middleton told Telegraph Sport last year.
“I look at her skill-set and it’s probably more rounded than any player in the game - male or female.
“She can run, pass, kick, catch, high-ball catch, everything... and apart from that she’s probably one of the nicest people you could meet. She’s incredibly rounded, as an athlete, a player and a person.”
The World Cup, postponed from 2021, will take place from October
8 to November 12 next year.