Canada has ended England’s remarkable 41-match unbeaten run in women’s international rugby with a dramatic 24-21 victory. The match, part of the WXV tournament, took place at BMO Field in Toronto in front of a record crowd of 18,621 spectators. This thrilling win serves as a significant moment for Canada, providing redemption after England’s previous triumph over them in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final.
England started the game strongly but failed to capitalize on several attacking opportunities. Canada took advantage of a yellow card shown to England’s Zoe Harrison, with Savannah Bauder opening the scoring for the hosts. Despite this, England managed to establish a 14-5 lead at halftime with tries from Maddie Feaunati and Harrison.
The second half saw a determined Canadian side fight back, with Alysha Corrigan scoring a solo try to narrow the gap. England’s Sarah Bern added to their score, but Canada kept up relentless pressure through effective forward play. DaLeaka Menin’s try further intensified the contest, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
In the closing minutes, Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored the decisive try, securing a 24-21 lead for Canada. The hosts held firm to claim the historic victory, sparking celebrations both on the field and among their supporters.
England’s defeat marks a turning point after four years of dominance in international women’s rugby. Head coach John Mitchell acknowledged that the team could learn valuable lessons from the loss and expressed confidence in their ability to respond.
The two teams are set to face each other again next weekend, offering England a chance to recover and Canada an opportunity to build on their historic win.