Canada ended England’s 41-match unbeaten streak with a dramatic 24-21 victory in a WXV women’s rugby international held at BMO Field in Toronto. The closely contested match took place in front of a record crowd of 18,621 spectators and marked a significant moment for Canadian rugby, particularly as a form of redemption following England’s win over Canada in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final.
England initially took control of the match but failed to capitalize on several attacking opportunities. The turning point came when England’s Zoe Harrison received a yellow card, allowing Savannah Bauder to score the opening try for Canada. England responded with tries from Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison, establishing a 14-5 lead at halftime.
After the break, Canada mounted a strong comeback. Alysha Corrigan’s solo try narrowed the gap, but England’s Sarah Bern added another try to keep England ahead. Undeterred, Canada continued their aggressive play, with DaLeaka Menin scoring a crucial try. As the match reached its climax, Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored the decisive try in the final minutes, securing Canada’s victory at 24-21.
The match was a pivotal moment in international women’s rugby, ending England’s dominance over the past four years. England’s head coach, John Mitchell, acknowledged the significance of the loss, stating that the team could learn valuable lessons from it and expressed confidence in their ability to rebound.
The victory was met with celebrations from Canadian players and supporters. Looking ahead, the two teams are set to face each other again in a match next weekend, providing England with an immediate chance to recover while Canada aims to build upon their historic win.