Canada ended England’s dominant 41-match unbeaten run with a thrilling 24-21 victory in a WXV women’s rugby international match at BMO Field in Toronto. The historic win came in front of a record crowd of 18,621 spectators and served as redemption for Canada, who lost to England in last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final.
Despite a strong start, England struggled to capitalize on several attacking opportunities. Canada’s Savannah Bauder opened the scoring after England’s Zoe Harrison received a yellow card. England responded with tries from Maddie Feaunati and Harrison to take a 14-5 lead into half-time.
After the break, Canada mounted a comeback with Alysha Corrigan scoring a solo try to narrow the gap. Although Sarah Bern extended England’s lead, Canada continued to apply pressure through effective forward movement. DaLeaka Menin’s try further intensified the contest.
The match was finely poised until Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored the decisive try in the closing minutes, giving Canada a 24-21 lead. The home team maintained their advantage, sparking celebrations among players and fans alike.
England’s defeat marked a significant turning point after four years of dominance in international women’s rugby. England’s head coach, John Mitchell, acknowledged the lessons to be learned from the loss and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rebound.
The two teams are set to face each other again next weekend, providing England with an immediate opportunity to recover, while Canada will aim to build on their historic performance.