October 16, 2026
Canada headline
Just shy of thirteen months after England defeated Canada at Twickenham Stadium to win the 2025 Rugby World Cup, the two top-ranked sides met again – this time on BMO Field in Toronto, Canada in a match that had as much magic as that World Cup final had. Only this time, things had changed.
Defending cup champs England and third-ranked Canada wasted no time reverting back and continued off where they had stopped at that fateful final whistle. And for the next eighty minutes, rugby fans reaped the rewards.
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In front of a 18,621 spectators, a new record high for attendance at a North American women’s rugby match, two titans went head to head in an action-filled romp that went down to the final seconds of play.
England seemed to have opening the scoring just five minutes into the test, when Claudia Moloney-MacDonald appeared to score a try that was called back for a knock-on. Canada survived the early pressure, and built up a head of steam from this moment on.
Canada surged forward, but met a tough, strong defense as England resisted all Canadian attempts to cross the goal line. A quarter of an hour into the match, however, Savannah Bauder fought her way over the line to score a try in only her third appearance for Canada, as BMO Field erupted. Canada were ahead of the English giants.
England responded with force, punishing the Canadian side and forcing Canada’s defense to dig deep to prevent the oncoming onslaught. That sustained pressure caused Canada to take penalties, and would eventually sting them. That all came to head when Laetitia Royer was shown a yellow card and was sent to sit in the naught chair for ten minutes and think about her sins.
England, now a player to the wise, could now break through the stern Canadian defense and that is what they did.
First, Maddie Feunati muscled her way across the Canadian goal line at roughly the half-hour mark. Then, minutes later, Zoe Harrison followed suit – making Canada pay dearly for the yellow card as Royer could only sit and watch it all unfold before her eyes.
The defending World Cup champions England lead 14 to 5 at half-time.
The second half was an action-packed forty minutes that brought a great rugby test to the people of Toronto and the many that had come from across the nation and overseas.
Canada stormed back into the match early on, showing great determination, poise and a grit that only the top teams possess. Alysha Corrigan punted the ball down the right side of the pitch, gave chase before regathering it and carried the ball over the goal line, scoring a brilliant try to grab Canada back into the foray. Sophie de Goede put her kick through the uprights and Canada were now within two points of the lead.
Again England pushed the resolve of the Canadians, scoring a try in the process when Sarah Bern crossed the goal line to extend England’s lead. The world cup champions were showing why they were the force to be reckoned with. Skilled all over the pitch – but Canada were determined to show them that they were every bit as good as they are.
Daleaka Menin revived Canada’s hopes when she scored just passed the hour mark, as BMO Field erupted with raucous joy. Canada where now just three points shy of equalizing powerhouse England and the crowd were there for it, energizing their girls. Warming them in the frigid temperatures and pushing them into battle.
Then, with just two minutes left to play, the unthinkable happened. Canada broke out, feeding the ball along to the left side of the field, where Shoshannah Seumanutafa took control of the ball and ran it into touch. Diving to the ground with a look of astonishment on her face. Instantly, she knew what she had just accomplished as her team mates swarmed her on the ground. Jumping for joy. Canada were ahead with just two minutes left on the clock.
Canada were about to beat the giants. England hadn’t lost in forty-one matches prior to tonight, and here was number three ranked Canada about to topple that record.
Read More:
>> Canada will take on Guatemala at Nations League quarterfinals in Toronto
>> Canada returns home following a successful World Cup
>> The Montreal Roses set NSL attendance record in win over Halifax Tides
The WXV Global Series, unveiled by World Rugby and 18 national unions earlier this year, marks a transformative moment for the international women’s game. Designed to harness the growth of women’s rugby across the world, the competition creates certainty of fixtures, deepens international rivalries and lays a clear competitive pathway towards Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.
These two sides will meet again in seven days time, when they face off again at TD Place in Ottawa on October 23rd.
