Canada’s women’s rugby squad looks to end England’s 39-match winning streak

A year on from their 33-13 loss to England in the Rugby World Cup final, the Canadian women renew their rivalry with the top-ranked Red Roses on Saturday (10 a.m. ET, TSN).

The match at Exeter’s Sandy Park is the first of three meetings between the two sides in the WXV Global Series, which features the top 12 women’s teams in the world.

Third-ranked Canada and England will also meet Oct. 16 in Toronto and Oct. 23 in Ottawa. The Canadian women play fourth-ranked France on Sept. 26 in La Rochelle.

For Canada captain Sophie de Goede, the rematch with England has been a long time coming.

“I know for me probably four to five nights a week I can’t fall asleep because I’m still thinking about the [World Cup] final,” said the 27-year-old forward from Victoria, who was named World Rugby’s Women’s 15s player of the year in 2025. “So it definitely plays over and over in your head and it’s something that definitely drives you.

“But I think the important thing for us is to find a balance of not being too emotionally invested in the past. Because that’s probably actually a negative.”

The Canadian women have lost 14 straight to England since a 52-17 win in July 2016. But de Goede says both teams have “evolved” since the World Cup final that took place before a women’s rugby record crowd of 81,885 at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

England has not lost since November 2022 when it was beaten 34-31 by host New Zealand in the final of the pandemic-delayed 2021 World Cup.

Canada opened WXV play last Saturday with a 64-26 triumph over No. 7 Scotland in Edinburgh. England, meanwhile, extended its win streak to 39 matches with a 48-15 victory over No. 9 Australia.

England coach John Mitchell has named an experienced 23-player matchday squad boasting 974 combined caps and featuring 14 women who were involved in the World Cup final.

“You need rivalries in our sport and our rivalry with Canada is one that has evolved to a great level,” Mitchell said. “They are a well-coached team who will bring a different challenge to the one Australia presented. We will be expected to raise our standards.”

The Canadian lineup totals 558 caps, including 200 on the bench, and features 12 players that dressed for the World Cup decider.

England has won all six outings since the World Cup, outscoring its opposition 331-119. Canada has won three of four, with the lone setback a 36-14 loss to No. 2 New Zealand in April.

The England games in Canada will serve as a more accurate measuring stick of the two teams, with more training time under both teams’ belts.

“For some of the girls, I haven’t seen them since the World Cup,” said Canada coach Kévin Rouet.

Ten of the Canadian players who will dress Saturday go into the game with 12 caps or less.

The two teams know each other well with de Goede and 10 other members of the Canadian matchday squad plying their trade in England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).

“You get to know the English players better but they get to know you better, so it works both ways,” said de Goede.

Scrum half Olivia Apps, who captained the Canadian sevens side to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, was named PWR player of the year and joined De Goede and five other Canadians in leading Saracens to a 52-14 win over Ealing Trailfinders in the June PWR final. Ealing featured five Canadians in its lineup.

Rouet served as an assistant coach with Saracens.

Should de Goede be entrusted with kicking duties Saturday, she will be using her own signature kicking tee. De Goede has teamed up with Rugby Bricks on the newly released red tee.

De Goede is following in the footsteps of the late Don Burgess, a Canadian credited with the invention of the tee. A former player and renowned coach, Burgess’s tee allowed kickers to forgo digging up the field or using a bucket of sand to establish a launching pad for kicks.

The International Rugby Board amended its rules of the game in 1991 to approve use of the kicking tee.

Canadian men take on U.S. in Tokyo

The 24th-ranked Canadian men are also in action Saturday when they take on the 14th-ranked U.S. Eagles in Tokyo in the third-place game at the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup. No. 9 Fiji faces No. 12 Japan in the final.

Canada lost 45-29 to Fiji in semi-final play, matching its highest offensive output against a Tier 1 nation since a 40-29 loss to Fiji in May 1999. The Canadians showed off periods of free-flowing attacking rugby with captain Lucas Rumball leading the team in carries and tackles.

Rumball is set to earn his 70th cap Saturday, moving him into a tie for the fourth-most capped player among Canadian men.

Canada beat the U.S. 34-20 when they met in last year’s Pacific Nations Cup in Calgary.

Canadian men set to join England’s Elior Champ Rugby clubs

More Canadian men are expected to be playing for clubs in England this season thanks to an agreement between Rugby Canada and Elior Champ Rugby, the second-tier league in England.

The deal will see Rugby Canada help players with relocation and visa costs while Champ Rugby will offer player contracts that include accommodation support. Each of the 14 English teams will be allowed a roster exemption to sign a Canadian.

Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys calls the agreement a “win-win for everyone.”

Canadian men have had to look harder for pro contracts since the American-based Major League Rugby lost franchises and reduced openings for import players.