Women's

England vice-captain Scarratt has surgery on broken leg

Emily Scarratt celebrates with the trophy 24/4/2021
Reigning Women’s Six Nations champions England have been dealt a significant blow after vice-captain Emily Scarratt underwent surgery for a broken leg.

Reigning Women’s Six Nations champions England have been dealt a significant blow after vice-captain Emily Scarratt underwent surgery for a broken leg.

Scarratt, who was named Player of the Championship in 2020, sustained the injury just minutes into Loughborough Lightning’s Premier 15s season-opening defeat to Harlequins on Sunday.

She was the top points scorer for her country in their 2021 Women’s Six Nations title success, having also helped the Red Roses to Championship crowns in 2019 and 2020.

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The RFU confirmed that the 31-year-old had undergone surgery on Tuesday and that it “went well” but did not provide a timeframe for her return as she begins her recovery and rehabilitation.

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 was playing fly-half for Loughborough in their Premier 15s curtain-raiser at Twickenham Stoop before she left the field on a stretcher with her leg strapped in a medical boot.

She looks set to miss a series of Tests this autumn for the Red Roses as Simon Middleton looks to prepare his side for the 2022 Championship and next year’s delayed World Cup.

England face New Zealand at Sandy Park on October 31 – the first meeting between the two sides in over two years – before facing the Black Ferns again at Franklin’s Gardens on November 7.

The Red Roses will conclude their autumn Tests with fixtures against Canada a week later and then the United States on November 21.

With Scarratt unavailable, Middleton will have several options to choose from to fill the hole left by his vice-captain – with the likes of Lagi Tuima and Meg Jones among those in the running to don the No.10 jersey.