In one of the most anticipated matchups in women’s rugby history, England and Canada faced off in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, Sept 27.
Both teams were coming off incredible tournaments to that point, where England continued their dominant winning streak that saw them dismantle each opponent they came across. However, it was Canada that was making headlines throughout the tournament, going undefeated alongside England on their way to the final.
The final score was England 33, Canada 13. In a sport where physicality is the main proponent, it was the chess-like style of play that stood out in this juggernaut matchup. Both teams played extremely fluently, especially England, which moved like a well-oiled machine for what seemed like the entire match.
To many’s surprise, Canada took an early lead, scoring the first try of the game just five minutes into the game. It didn’t take long for England to respond, however, as they came right back in the eighth minute to take the lead. England took control for the majority of the first half, posting three more tries to take a 21-8 lead at half.
The second half played more of a slower pace, with both teams waiting patiently for the other to make a mistake. The record crowd of 81,885 was a huge factor in the game, filling the entire Allianz Stadium with roars that would often overshadow the action on the pitch. Playing on their home turf, England was backed by tens of thousands of loyal fans cheering them on nonstop for the entirety of the game. Canadians made their presence known, as many from around the nation travelled to watch their country go to war.
The game of rugby has become nothing short of a national phenomenon, especially since the turn of the millennium. This is in part due to the success of the women’s national team, which has become a place of winning as of recent. The national sevens team took home silver in the 2024 Paris Olympics, seeing them fall just short to the French hosts, while they captured bronze in Brazil in 2016. Canada’s team has been nothing short of influential to not only women’s rugby but the sport as a whole. On a different level, USports has been producing professional-level players for years now. Teams like Queens, Western, Guelph, Laval, and Victoria have all become powerhouses in their own right around the country. Queens, especially, has cemented itself as the program to beat, year in and year out. Recruiting players from around the country, the Gales rugby program is a staple in women’s sports around the country and remains the most dominant force in all of Canadian sports.
This type of dominance has created a culture, breaking barriers one step at a time. High school teams from around the nation are seeing an increase in participation from players, while Canadian rugby launches new programs supporting the growth of the sport year-round. Rugby culture is not only growing in Canada, but it’s becoming stronger.
As for England, they sit atop the totem pole waiting for somebody to break their record-breaking 33rd consecutive wins. Rugby was once a sport dominated but one nation. New Zealand had its grasp on the sports for decades, until recently, when England took the reins. The English had lost to the All Black in the last two World Cups, until this year, when it was Canada who would slay the beast, crushing New Zealand in the semi-final.
The Red Roses came into this tournament as the favourites, but knew nothing was guaranteed. It was the previous World Cup when they had another 30-game winning streak snapped by the All Blacks, shattering their dreams. After finally claiming the trophy, England fans could finally take a deep breath and relax knowing they were the world champions.