Streak Over: Canada beats top-ranked England 24-21 in women’s rugby match in Toronto

“So I think, more than anything, I feel proud of the way that we found a way to win that game. It wasn’t easy.”

Semanutafa raced down the wing and dived over the line to send the crowd of 18,621 spectators into a tizzy. It was a new stand-alone attendance record for a women’s rugby match in North America.

The previous mark of 11,453 was set on Aug. 1, 2025 when Canada beat the United States 42-10 in a World Cup warm-up match in Ottawa.

Savannah Bauder, Alysha Corrigan and Daleaka Menin had the other tries for the Canadians, who missed two converts. Maddie Feaunati, Zoe Harrison and Sarah Bern scored tries for England.

“I told them as soon as you do it once, you want to do it twice,” said Canadian head coach Kevin Rouet. “That’s something we have to to focus on.”

The third-ranked Canadian side ended England’s 39-game winning streak on Sept. 19 when the teams played to a 26-26 draw in Exeter. It was part of a 1-1-1 showing for Canada over three WXV Global Series matches in Europe.

England, which beat Canada 33-13 in the World Cup final last year, hadn’t lost since dropping a 34-31 decision to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final.

“Sometimes the flipped coin doesn’t go on the side you want it to go,” said England captain Meg Jones. “It’s just the nature of the beast, and we go again.”

Asia Hogan-Rochester and de Goede — the 2025 World Rugby women’s player of the year — returned to the starting 15 after missing Canada’s 21-5 loss to France last month.

Corrigan got a start for the first time since the World Cup while Taylor Perry and vice-captain Alex Tessier swapped positions. Perry moved to inside centre and Tessier played fly-half for the first time this year before leaving early due to injury.

England’s Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored a try in the sixth minute but officials ruled it was a knock-on.

Canada controlled play for the next 10 minutes but had difficulty getting over the line. The host side finally found space out wide and Bauder scored to make it 5-0. De Goede’s convert attempt was wide.

England responded but a few turnovers deep in the zone prevented a score.

The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Canada’s Laetitia Royer was off after a yellow card. Feaunati picked up the ball by the side of the scrum and rumbled over the line for the try.

Harrison extended England’s lead in the 37th minute. After the halftime break, Corrigan put a charge into the crowd with a solo try that pulled Canada within two points.

England responded on its next possession with a try from Bern. Menin answered for Canada by powering over the line in the 63rd minute.

The teams will continue what organizers are calling the Rugby Rematch Tour on Oct. 23 at Ottawa.

“It’s how you respond now when you’ve had a loss,” Jones said. “I think that’s the biggest test of character.”

It was a busy few days off the field for the Canadian team leading up to the game. Rouet had his contract extended through 2030 and second-row forward Tyson Beukeboom announced her retirement.

It was the Canadian team’s first-ever appearance at BMO Field, the home of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

Beukeboom earned 84 caps for Canada over a 13-year international career. She’s the country’s most-capped rugby player across both the men’s and women’s games.

Teams are building over the four-year cycle ahead of the 2029 World Cup in Australia. England and Canada have already qualified.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Streak Over: Canada beats top-ranked England 24-21 in women’s rugby match in Toronto

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