A rematch almost a year in the making
England's Red Roses will take on Canada at Sandy Park on Saturday, the first meeting between the sides since England won the 2025 Rugby World Cup final. That match took place at Twickenham in front of 81,885 spectators, a record crowd for a women's rugby final, and Saturday's game falls just under a year later. The final had pitted tournament underdogs Canada, who had eliminated defending champions New Zealand in the semi-finals, against heavily favoured England, who had home advantage and had been unbeaten since the previous World Cup final in 2022.[S1]
Canada struck first in that final when Asia Hogan-Rochester scored the opening try. England only truly ignited when Ellie Kildunne beat several defenders to put her team on the board. Kildunne later described the moment as an unexpected breakthrough, recalling that scoring and looking downfield at her teammates restarted the match for England after Canada's early try. She said the crowd's roar hit her immediately and gave the team a lift. Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps, who entered in the second half, said the noise in a full stadium was unlike anything she could explain.[S1]
Players reflect on where the final was decided
Apps said she felt shocked and heartbroken at full time and was saddened to see how disappointed her teammates were, knowing how much they had invested. She identified two main reasons for Canada's defeat: England had more calm and composed players, and Canada's set piece was not good enough. She said Canada knows it must improve its set piece to beat England or any top side, and that the team is focusing on it in training. She added that experienced players need to provide composure and the right mindset, and that Canada must balance its athleticism, ferocity and passion with more control and calm.[S1]
Sadia Kabeya, the England flanker named player of the final, offered a different view. She said England knew Canada thrives on momentum and unstructured play, which is easiest when the breakdown is fast. England's plan was to win dominant collisions and slow that breakdown. By disrupting Canada's attack, England also gained more attacking ball because Canada ended up kicking the ball back or knocking it on under pressure. Kabeya said the game was decided by England's aggression in defence.[S1]
The final's legacy on and off the pitch
The World Cup final has had a lasting impact in both countries. England has continued to draw large crowds and will play New Zealand at Twickenham on 26 September before more than 50,000 spectators. Premiership Women's Rugby reported a 23% rise in attendances across the English top flight in the 2025-26 season. In Canada, Apps said underage women's rugby registrations have increased by 300%, with the underage groups recording their highest number of registrations ever. The 2025 final was the second World Cup final between the two nations, after England also beat Canada in 2014.[S1]
Apps said she is curious to see how both teams have changed and evolved over the year, noting that neither side is in the same place as last year. She hopes her coach does not put too much pressure on the team, adding that she does not feel pressure herself and sees the match as a chance to measure where Canada stands a year after the final. She pointed out that there will not be 80,000 people watching or the weight of a World Cup final, just a Test match. England, meanwhile, are focused on themselves and potentially extending their consecutive win record to 40 matches. Kabeya said it is just another game, noting the teams have already met in the World Cup and in WXV, and that England's focus is on how good they can be, with Canada left to see if they can hold out.[S1]
