Canada opened the door to revenge for their Rugby World Cup final loss to England by halting the Red Roses' remarkable 39‑Test winning streak in a nail‑biting 26‑26 stalemate at Exeter's Sandy Park. The match, part of the WXV Global Series, unfolded just eight days shy of the one‑year anniversary of England's 33‑13 triumph over New Zealand at Twickenham, and it lived up to the hype with a sold‑out crowd, eight tries, and a finish that went down to the very last seconds on the clock. The first half was a try‑fest. England’s wing Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald exploded onto the scene twice, while Canada’s prop Daleaka Menin matched her with a double of her own.
Contributions from England’s forward Hannah Botterman and Canadian centre Lizzie Gibson added to the tally, leaving the score dead‑locked at 19‑19 at the break after six tries in the opening 40 minutes. Both teams displayed a blend of power, speed, and tactical awareness that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The second half began with Bryony Field crossing for her second Test try, seemingly setting the stage for a classic English surge that had often defined the Red Roses' post‑World Cup performances. Yet Canada refused to be overrun.
Scrum‑half Olivia Apps orchestrated a swift counter‑attack, slipping the ball to the backline and ultimately scoring to bring the visitors level at 26‑26. England pressed hard, repeatedly testing the Canadian defence, but the visitors held firm, opting to kick the ball dead in the final play to preserve the draw and, for the first time on English soil, deny the Red Roses a win. Looking ahead, the Red Roses will aim to bounce back when they host New Zealand – the very side that edged them out in the 2022 World Cup final – at Allianz Stadium next Saturday.
After that encounter, England will travel to Canada for back‑to‑back Tests in Toronto and Ottawa, while the Canadians will head to France for their next fixture. A minute‑by‑minute recap illustrates how tightly contested the match was. Canada struck first at the five‑minute mark when Lizzie Gibson dived over, though Sophie de Goede missed the conversion.
England answered five minutes later with a well‑executed move that saw Moloney‑MacDonald dive into the corner, but Zoe Harrison also failed to add the extra points. The rhythm continued when Menin put Canada back in front in the 14th minute, and de Goede successfully converted this time. Botterman answered for England shortly after, with Harrison's kick restoring parity.
Moloney‑MacDonald’s second try gave England a fleeting lead, only for Menin to equalise again just before the half‑time whistle. The second half saw Field’s maul‑derived try in the 53rd minute, followed by Harrison’s successful conversion that gave England a seven‑point cushion.
Yet the lead was short‑lived; four minutes later, Apps completed a fluid Canadian attack, and de Goede’s conversion brought the scores level once more at 26‑all. England dominated possession in the closing minutes, repeatedly entering Canadian territory, but the Red Roses could not breach the line for a decisive score, and the match ended in a draw. England head coach John Mitchell reflected on the performance, noting, "We are in a Test series, which is really good for us.
We need to get better, and there is a greater purpose than this one Test match. This is ideal for us and allows us to stay focused." His comments underscored the developmental nature of the series and the importance of using each game as a stepping stone toward larger objectives. Player of the match Daleaka Menin praised her side’s effort, saying, "It was a big challenge, I am a little tired.
We didn't get exactly what we wanted but it was a great game of rugby. We have two more against them so we will see what happens.
This week we were really trying to push ourselves. We really wanted to prove something here. This is just the start of this journey." Her words captured the determination and resilience that propelled Canada to hold the Red Roses at bay. England captain Meg Jones added, "It was amazing Test match rugby.
That is what we want, it was a battle. Our discipline let us down, we didn't get in the right areas, and execute. We have got two more shots [at Canada].
We are just looking to grow each time we play because the game gives you the best feedback. We will go again next week." Jones highlighted the areas needing improvement – discipline, execution, and territorial control – while expressing optimism about the learning opportunities the series provides. Overall, the 26‑26 draw was more than just a statistical footnote; it signalled a shift in the competitive balance of women’s rugby. The Red Roses’ 39‑match unbeaten run, which had seemed almost invincible, was finally broken not by a loss but by a hard‑fought equaliser on foreign soil.
For Canada, the result was a statement of intent, proving they can stand toe‑to‑toe with the world’s best and that the gap between the traditional powerhouses and emerging nations is narrowing. Both teams will take valuable lessons from Exeter.
England will focus on tightening discipline, sharpening execution in the final third, and converting possession into points. Canada will build on their defensive resilience, continue to develop their attacking structures, and use the momentum from this performance to challenge higher‑ranked opponents in the upcoming fixtures. The next encounters promise to be equally compelling. When New Zealand visits Allianz Stadium, the Red Roses will seek to restore their winning momentum against the world champions.
Meanwhile, Canada’s upcoming clash with France will test whether the confidence gained from Exeter can translate into a victory against another top‑tier side. The WXV Global Series continues to showcase the rapid evolution of women’s rugby, with each match offering new narratives, emerging stars, and the ever‑present possibility of historic upsets.