Canada opened the door to revenge for their Rugby World Cup final loss to England by halting the Red Roses' remarkable 39‑Test winning run, forcing a 26‑26 stalemate in a dramatic encounter 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 the packed stadium bore witness to an action‑filled contest that featured eight tries and a finish that came down to the final seconds on the clock. The opening half was a showcase of attacking flair from both sides. England wing Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald struck early, crossing for a try within the first five minutes, only to see Zoe Harrison miss the conversion.
Canada responded almost immediately when prop Daleaka Menin powered over, and this time Sophie de Goede successfully added the extra points, putting the visitors ahead. The back‑and‑forth continued as England's Hannah Botterman forced her way over the line a few minutes later, with Harrison converting to restore parity at 12‑12.
The seesaw pattern persisted, with Menin scoring her second try just before the break, ensuring the scores were level at 19‑19 at halftime after a six‑try opening period. When the second half began, England looked to assert their traditional dominance.
Bryony Field, making her first start, collected a rolling maul and touched down in the 53rd minute, giving the hosts a brief seven‑point cushion after Harrison's successful conversion. However, Canada refused to be intimidated. Four minutes later scrum‑half Olivia Apps orchestrated a swift, incisive move that culminated in a try, and de Goede again slotted the conversion, knotting the match at 26‑26. England pressed hard in the remaining minutes, repeatedly entering Canadian territory, but the visitors held firm, ultimately kicking the final play dead to secure the draw and, crucially, to end the Red Roses' unbeaten run on English soil for the first time.
The result leaves England with a mixed sense of achievement and unfinished business. Head coach John Mitchell praised the experience of playing a test series, emphasizing the need for continual improvement and the broader purpose beyond a single match. "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," he said.
Player of the match, Daleaka Menin, reflected on the challenge and the team's resilience: "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." England captain Meg Jones added her perspective, noting the high‑quality test rugby and the areas needing improvement: "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." Looking ahead, England will aim to rebound when they host New Zealand at Allianz Stadium next Saturday.
The Black Ferns, who were the last team to defeat England in the 2022 World Cup final, will provide a stern test. Following that fixture, England will travel to Canada for back‑to‑back Tests in Toronto and Ottawa, while Canada themselves have a crucial encounter against France on the horizon. In other news from the same weekend, Scotland endured a heavy 66‑14 loss to a dominant New Zealand side at Hive Stadium. The Black Ferns, currently ranked second globally, displayed their attacking prowess by scoring ten tries.
The try‑scorers included Mo'omo'oga Palu, Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, Justine McGregor, Elinor‑Plum King, a brace from Layla Sae, Amy du Plessis, Amarante Sititi, Tara Turner and Alena Saili. Scotland's next challenge will be a match against Australia at the same venue next Saturday, while New Zealand will face England on the same day, setting up a series of high‑stakes fixtures across the women's international calendar.
Overall, the draw in Exeter not only halted a historic winning streak but also underscored the growing competitiveness of women's rugby. Both England and Canada demonstrated depth, skill, and a willingness to fight until the final whistle, promising an exciting continuation of the WXV series and an intriguing lead‑up to future test matches and tournaments.