Canada Ends England’s 41-Match Unbeaten Run in Women’s Rugby
Shoshanah Seumanutafa's 77th-minute try sealed a 24-21 victory before a record North American crowd of 18,621.
A record-setting crowd in Toronto watched Canada dismantle one of the most dominant stretches in international rugby history Saturday, defeating world champion England 24-21 to snap a 41-match unbeaten run that had defined the Red Roses for four years.
Substitute Shoshanah Seumanutafa delivered the decisive blow in the 77th minute, diving over for a try that sent 18,621 fans into a frenzy. The attendance established a new benchmark for women’s rugby union in North America, underscoring the rapid commercial and cultural growth of the sport outside its traditional strongholds in Europe and Oceania.
The defeat closes a chapter that began after England lost the 2022 World Cup final to New Zealand. Since that match in Auckland, the Red Roses had not tasted defeat, accumulating 39 consecutive victories before Canada forced a 26-26 draw last month in Exeter. That stalemate temporarily halted the winning streak but left the broader unbeaten record intact until Saturday’s encounter at BMO Field.
Canada entered the match carrying the weight of last year’s World Cup final loss to England at Twickenham. The hosts channeled that frustration immediately, with Savannah Bauder opening the scoring in the 15th minute. England responded with characteristic efficiency just before halftime, as Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison scored quickfire tries to establish a 14-5 lead at the break.
The second half evolved into a physical grind. Both teams crossed the try line shortly after the restart, but DaLeaka Menin’s 63rd-minute score narrowed the gap enough to keep Canadian hopes alive during the final quarter. Seumanutafa’s late intervention ultimately secured the 24-21 result and provided Canada with definitive revenge on home soil.
England head coach John Mitchell, who succeeded Simon Middleton following the 2023 World Cup triumph, framed the loss as a diagnostic opportunity rather than a crisis. Mitchell indicated the result could strip away complacency and force his squad to re-examine their underlying motivations as they prepare for the next phase of the international calendar.
Red Roses captain Meg Jones acknowledged the significance of the atmosphere generated by the Canadian supporters. Jones noted that while the team takes immense pride in the four-year streak, expanding the global footprint of women’s rugby remains a primary objective for the English program, which operates under fully professional contracts through the Rugby Football Union — a structural advantage most competing nations have yet to replicate.
The two sides will meet again next Saturday in Ottawa to conclude the two-game Rugby Rematch Tour. Canada will look to prove Saturday’s performance was a permanent shift in the competitive balance rather than an isolated upset against a transitioning English squad.
