Canada's women's rugby team ended one of the longest unbeaten streaks in the sport's history on Friday night, October 16, 2026, defeating world champion England 24-21 in front of a record crowd at BMO Field in Toronto. A 77th-minute try from substitute Shoshanah Seumanutafa settled the WXV Global Series opener, snapping the Red Roses' 41-match unbeaten run and sending 18,621 spectators into delirium.
Illustration: An AI-generated depiction of a packed Toronto stadium celebrating the landmark women's rugby match. This is an illustration, not a real photo.
What Happened
The opener of a two-game Rugby Rematch Tour between the fierce rivals delivered an 80-minute classic. Canada, ranked third in the world, opened the scoring through Savannah Bauder, but England struck back with quickfire tries from Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison just before half-time to lead 14-5 at the break.
England looked to be powering to victory after surging into a 21-12 lead early in the second half, with Sarah Bern rumbling over the try line shortly after Alysha Corrigan had narrowed the gap for the hosts. But Canada, roared on by the home crowd, refused to buckle. Tight-head prop DaLeaka Menin crashed over from close range in the 64th minute, and Sophie de Goede's conversion made it 21-19. Then, with less than three minutes left, the home side worked the ball into space and Seumanutafa raced down the wing to dive over in the corner, making it 24-21. Canada held on through the closing stages to complete the famous win.
"Definitely special," Canada captain Sophie de Goede told reporters afterward, saying her side had to "grind it out and find a way" to win. England captain Meg Jones was gracious in defeat: "Credit to Canada, what an outstanding performance."
Background
The result was no fluke — it was the culmination of a rivalry that has been tilting toward Canada for a month. On September 19, the Canadians ended England's 39-match winning streak with a 26-26 draw in Exeter, part of a 1-1-1 showing across three WXV Global Series matches in Europe. England's unbeaten run, which had stretched back to their 34-31 World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022, is the longest unbeaten streak in women's rugby history.
The two sides know each other intimately: England beat Canada 33-13 in last year's World Cup final, and Canada returned to home soil for the first time since that defeat as runners-up. Canada's last win over the Red Roses before Friday had come in 2016 at the Women's Rugby Super Series, making the Toronto victory a decade-defining moment for the Canadian program.
Illustration: An AI-generated depiction of a rugby winger diving over the try line in the corner under floodlights. This is an illustration, not a real photo.
Why It Matters
The result reverberates well beyond one Friday night in Toronto. England, the reigning world champions and the sport's dominant force for four years, are suddenly beatable — and they know it. Head coach John Mitchell said afterward: "We're not driven by outcome. We're disappointed by the result but there was some very good things in our performance tonight." The defeat, he added, could allow his group to "find more" as they review and re-establish their motivations.
For Canada, the win is validation of a program on the rise. It was also a triumph off the field: the crowd of 18,621 set a new standalone attendance record for a women's rugby match in North America, smashing the previous mark of 11,453 set when Canada beat the United States in Ottawa in August 2025. It was the largest attendance for a Canadian Test match in over a decade. "I think it's a little bit more than just the score at the end because we won on so many levels today," Canada's Justine Pelletier said, pointing to the crowd, the occasion and the growing profile of the women's game. De Goede — the 2025 World Rugby women's player of the year — returned to the starting lineup for the test after missing Canada's 21-5 loss to France last month, underscoring how close to full strength this Canadian side now is.
What Happens Next
- The rematch: The two-game Rugby Rematch Tour continues, and Canada head coach Kevin Rouet made his expectations clear: "I told them as soon as you do it once, you want to do it twice."
- England's response: The Red Roses face a test of mentality. Mitchell's young squad must regroup quickly and rediscover the clinical finishing that deserted them in the second half in Toronto.
- The WXV Global Series: With England's aura dented, the tournament running through October 31 takes on a new dynamic — every opponent will now believe the world champions can be beaten.
- The crowd keeps growing: The Toronto record shows the appetite for women's rugby in North America is accelerating. Expect bigger venues and bigger numbers for the return fixture.
Illustration: An AI-generated depiction of the England women's rugby team standing together after the defeat. This is an illustration, not a real photo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Canada and England?
Canada won 24-21 at BMO Field in Toronto on October 16, 2026, in the opener of the WXV Global Series Rugby Rematch Tour. A 77th-minute try from substitute Shoshanah Seumanutafa was the difference.
How long was England's unbeaten run?
41 matches — the longest unbeaten streak in women's rugby history. The Red Roses had not lost since falling 34-31 to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final nearly four years ago.
Had Canada beaten England recently?
A month earlier, Canada ended England's 39-match winning streak with a 26-26 draw in Exeter. Before Friday's victory, Canada's last outright win over the Red Roses came in 2016.
How big was the crowd?
18,621 spectators — a new standalone attendance record for a women's rugby match in North America, breaking the previous mark of 11,453 set in Ottawa in August 2025. It was Canada's largest Test crowd in over a decade.
Do the teams meet again?
Yes — this was the opener of a two-game Rugby Rematch Tour. Canada coach Kevin Rouet said he expects his team to back up the win, while England's John Mitchell says the loss could help his young group grow.
Sources
- Reuters — "Canada women snap world champion England's 41-match unbeaten run" (October 17, 2026)
- Sportsnet — "Canada ends England's 41-match unbeaten streak in women's rugby" (October 17, 2026)
- TSN — "Canada beats top-ranked England in women's rugby match in Toronto" (October 16, 2026)
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