England’s remarkable 41-game unbeaten streak came to an end as Canada defeated them 24-21 in front of the largest crowd ever to attend a women’s rugby match in North America in Toronto on Friday.
Struggling to contain England’s scrum dominance, Canada found themselves trailing 14-5 at halftime and 21-12 after more than an hour. However, a late try by Shoshanah Seumanutafa in the 78th minute sealed the victory for Canada.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Canada captain Sophie de Goede emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “We really had to grind it out and find a way. That’s kind of the DNA of our team.”
This defeat marked England’s first loss since the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, ending a remarkable 72-match run with only one previous defeat since 2019.
The match drew a record crowd of 18,621 spectators, with Canada capitalizing on their previous draw with England at home last month, which ended England’s 39-game winning streak. Despite early missed opportunities by England, Canada’s strategic play and composure saw them secure a historic victory.
The two teams will face off again in Ottawa next Friday for a highly anticipated rematch.