Lake’s international career had been ravaged by injury, but her grit and determination saw her make comeback after comeback.
She achieved her target of being fit for last summer’s World Cup, but a shoulder injury suffered in the pool game against Canada proved the final blow.
In keeping with her modesty, Lake chose to announce her retirement on social media, with little fuss.
“After a lot of thought, the time has come for me to step away from the game that has given me so much,” she wrote.
“Rugby has been a part of my life longer than I can count. It has shaped who I am.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all the coaches I’ve had along the way. Thank you for your guidance, belief and for pushing me to be better every single day. To the management and medical staff, your hard work behind the scenes never goes unnoticed and I truly couldn’t have done this without you.
“To my team-mates, past and present, thank you for the memories, friendships, the battles and the laughs. It’s been an honour to stand beside you representing something bigger than ourselves.”
Lake also thanked the fans for their constant backing, and her family for their “unconditional love and support”.