Streak Over: Canada beats top-ranked England 24-21 in women’s rugby match in Toronto

TORONTO – Canada ended top-ranked England’s 41-game unbeaten streak on Friday with a 24-21 victory in a WXV Global Series women’s rugby match at BMO Field. 

Shoshanah Semanutafa’s try in the 77th minute was the difference. She raced down the wing and dived over the line to give Canada the late lead and the host side held on for the win.

Savannah Bauder, Alysha Corrigan and Daleaka Menin had the other Canadian tries. Maddie Feaunati, Zoe Harrison and Sarah Bern scored tries for England. 

A lively crowd of 18,621 spectators braved chilly, damp conditions to set a new stand-alone attendance record for a women’s rugby match in North America. The previous mark of 11,453 was set on Aug. 1, 2025 when Canada beat the United States 42-10 in a World Cup warm-up match in Ottawa.

Third-ranked Canada ended England’s 39-game winning streak last month when the teams played to a 26-26 draw in Exeter. It was part of a 1-1-1 showing for Canada over three WXV Global Series matches in Europe. 

England, which beat Canada 33-13 in the World Cup final last year, hadn’t lost since dropping a 34-31 decision to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final nearly four years ago.

Asia Hogan-Rochester and captain Sophie de Goede — the 2025 World Rugby women’s player of the year — returned to the starting 15 for the test after missing Canada’s 21-5 loss to France last month. 

Corrigan got a start for the first time since the World Cup while Taylor Perry and vice-captain Alex Tessier swapped positions. Perry moved to inside centre and Tessier played fly-half for the first time this year.

England’s Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored a try in the sixth minute but officials ruled it was a knock-on. 

Canada controlled play for the next 10 minutes but had difficulty getting over the line. The host side finally found space out wide and Bauder scored to make it 5-0. De Goede’s convert attempt was wide. 

England responded but a few turnovers deep in the zone prevented a score. 

The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Canada’s Laetitia Royer was off after a yellow card. Feaunati picked up the ball by the side of the scrum and rumbled over the line for the try. 

Harrison extended England’s lead in the 37th minute. Both tries were converted. 

Tessier left the game early in the half with an injury and didn’t return. 

Corrigan put a charge into the crowd early in the second half with a strong run down the wing for a converted try that pulled Canada within two points. 

England responded on its next possession with a try from Bern. Menin answered for Canada by powering over the line in the 63rd minute.

The teams will continue what organizers are calling the Rugby Rematch Tour on Oct. 23 at Ottawa.

It was a busy few days off the field for the Canadian team leading up to the game. Head coach Kevin Rouet had his contract extended through 2030 and second-row forward Tyson Beukeboom announced her retirement.

Teams are building for the 2029 World Cup in Australia. England and Canada have already qualified.

It was the Canadian team’s first-ever appearance at BMO Field, the home of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

Beukeboom earned 84 caps for Canada over a 13-year international career. She’s the country’s most-capped rugby player across both the men’s and women’s games.

Beukeboom played in four Rugby World Cups over her career, winning silver on two occasions. She also helped Canada secure a Pacific Four Series title in 2024.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.