Inside England Rugby’s Red Roses: the squad’s top travel tips and pre-game prep

Emily Scarratt

I knew I wanted to play rugby when… 
I first picked up a rugby ball, aged five, at Leicester Forest RFC. I went to watch my brother play.

Most memorable match moment?
Winning the 2014 World Cup in Paris.

Proudest moment representing your country? 
Captaining Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first year of the Women’s Sevens.

Pre-game ritual?
I always take my headphones off to soak up the atmosphere of the crowd when we get off the bus. 

Go-to meal before a game?
Pancakes with fruit, maple syrup or white chocolate. 

First trip abroad?
South of France, though my family are farmers, so harvest season always came first! 

Last trip abroad?
Miami – although that’s quite bougie for me.

Any travel essentials?
Lip balm – I’d rather lose my phone than my lip balm. Headphones and a speaker, especially at camp.

What’s on your travel soundtrack?
A mashup of country, 1990s R&B, 1980s cheese. Fleetwood Mac one day, Five the next.

When I’m not playing rugby…
I’m cooking Thai or Japanese food and baking. The girls always ask me to bring in white chocolate rocky road.

Any sporting heroes?
Will Greenwood, Geordan Murphy, Serena Williams and Dame Kelly Holmes.

Favourite sports film?
Cool Runnings. It teaches lots of lessons.

If I wasn’t a rugby player, I’d be…
A secondary school PE teacher. Before I went pro, I worked as one.

The best advice?
Put your head down and get on with it.

Ellie Kildunne

I knew I wanted to play rugby when…
the boys laughed when I picked up a ball.

Most memorable match moment?
Running into a sold-out stadium at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Proudest moment representing your country?
Every time I put on a white shirt and take part in a game that’s growing at such speed.

Pre-game ritual?
I’ve worked out I always need to be almost late. Last on the bus, last out of the changing room. I love to scribble a sunflower (for good energy), a butterfly (to represent a loved-one) and a smiley face on my body before a game.

Go-to meal before a game?
Plain pasta with butter – for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food is fuel.

Your first trip abroad?
Menorca as a baby. We often travelled to Egypt, Turkey and Portugal, too. 

Your last trip abroad?
Fuente de Piedra, near Malaga. I lay by the pool and ate tapas. 

Any travel essentials?
My Fujifilm X100VI digital camera, pens and hand-written notes from loved ones. 

What’s on your travel soundtrack?
Afrobeats. I’m loving Rema currently. 

Your match warm-up music?
Anything with a beat. I see rugby as a show since we train so 
hard. It’s our time to dance.
 
If I wasn’t a rugby player I’d be…
A creative director or photographer. I’d love to help raise women’s sport on a platform it’s not been on yet.
 
Best advice?
Our coach John Mitchell said to me, “If you want to play in the jungle, you can’t live in the zoo.” You’ve got to take chances.

Originally published in High Life Sept/Oct issue; all information was accurate at the time of going to press