England v Canada — as it happened

In the end, everything was all white. England are champions of the world, they won an event which surpassed every single expectation, even for those who dared to dream really big. We can toast the incredible crowds at this tournament and the huge hearts of all the teams, but first we must celebrate the thunderous triumph of the Red Roses.

They are world champions for the third time, and they can now lay to rest their previously dire record in finals. The joy was unconfined, and all those that supported the team all the way through from when some of then were amateurs, and all those who have willingly jumped on board the Red Rose Express, will be gloriously relieved and gloriously proud.

Launchbury vibes for De Goede

Nice touch to do the annual awards on the field after the final (Alex Lowe writes). It means that 18-year-old Braxton Sorenson-McGee gets an ovation from 80k fans after the winning breakthrough player of the year award. There’s a shock that Sophie de Goede wins player of the year…not that she hasn’t been ace but that all indications from World Rugby were that it would go to a player from the winning team. De Goede taking the stage has Joe Launchbury vibes from ten years ago, when he was named man of the match after England’s RWC defeat by Australia. De Goede is not celebrating but her team-mates are.

Sophie de Goede lost the final but she has been named world women’s XVs player of the year, ahead of Megan Jones. That is fine reward for a fine player, though she would have preferred victory on the day in the match. Her team-mates raise her aloft.

John Mitchell, the man who was first on the England men’s coaching staff in 1997 aged 33, has been named coach of the year. A taskmaster in his early days with a reputation for questionable man management and bust-ups, he has softened with experience and the Red Roses rave about him.

Braxton Sorenson-McGee, the 18-year-old who has been superb for New Zealand, is the breakthrough player of the year.

‘It’s a pinch me moment’

“It’s amazing! Thank you to everyone who came out here today,” Sadia Kabeya, the player of the match, has just said.

“It’s a pinch me moment. It’s been years and years in the making, I am so happy we could pull it off.

“All props to Canada they are a great side and they put up a great fight here today.”

England’s World Cup party

This has just dropped from the RFU: a celebration of the world champions on Sunday.

“England Rugby’s Red Roses will celebrate their historic home Women’s Rugby World Cup win with fans during the Champions Party at Battersea Power Station, London, on Sunday, September 28, from 2pm.

“The event will take place at North Park along the riverside area of Battersea Power Station.

The Champions Party, hosted by Katy Daley-Mclean and Topsy Ojo, will be broadcast on BBC1 from 3pm and England Rugby’s YouTube channel. The event is free to attend and those joining will be able to listen to live music before welcoming the Red Roses, experiencing the trophy lift and interacting with the players as they walk through the crowd.”

Third time lucky for England

England are world champions (Elgan Alderman writes). The Red Roses have done it. In small groups across the field, they embrace each other in relief.

Zoe Aldcroft will lift the World Cup trophy, just as Karen Almond and Katy Daly-Mclean did in 1994 and 2014. The Red Roses have now won 33 Tests in a row, extending their world record. The heartache of three years ago, when a 30-match run ended at Eden Park, is gone, in front of a crowd almost twice the size of that historic day in Auckland.

As for Canada, they have been superb. They are the second-best team in the world despite having a fraction of the financial support afforded to the Red Roses. They will surely be back here as part of the WXV global series next year. Half the squad already play in Premiership Women’s Rugby, so Sophie de Goede, Alex Tessier et al will actually be on a field near you even sooner.

ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP! FULL-TIME: Canada 13 England 33

78min And the player of the match has been announced too: Sadia Kabeya, the England open-side flanker. This is her second World Cup, part of the young generation for whom professionalism and dominance are second nature. She has been huge for England all tournament, leading the way with the tackle count.

76min The world-record women’s rugby attendance is confirmed: 81,885. It has been some occasion, and they are surely going to have an England win.

74min Canada are huffing and puffing but they just cannot blow this England house down. 33 points. 33 games unbeaten? The Red Roses are almost there.

TRY! Canada 13 England 33

70min The Red Roses, not for the first time, manage to arrest the tide with a scrum penalty in their own 22. And then perhaps through the fear of what might happen at the next one, Olivia Apps doesn’t feed the ball in and England receive the free kick.

Sophie de Goede can’t gather Ellie Kidunne’s spiral bomb and England have possession in the 22. They power over the gainline and Alex Matthews has her second try. The 2014 world champion is having a day. There are now ten minutes left for England to see out a 20-point lead.

33-13 is a familiar scoreline, isn’t it? That was how much Australia beat England by at the 2015 World Cup, almost ten years to the day. Sorry for mentioning that, home fans.

67min It’s been a tale of two set pieces over the past ten minutes (Alex Lowe writes). Canada finally got their lineout working, having allowed England to feed off a couple of overthrows. The players in red took full advantage of a throw in England’s 22 to breathe life into their game with a second try. And they built a threatening platform from the next lineout – but could not bludgeon their way over a second time. England’s suffocating goalline defence forced the knock-on – and then the red roses pack went to work. They twice relieved the pressure in their own 22 by marmalising Canada in the scrum to maintain a 13-point lead.

66min This is crazy from England. Barbaric, really. Canada have the put-in at another scrum to the left of centre midway inside the England half. England, back up to a full 15 players, gobble up the attempted onslaught from Canada. This scrum is wild. It’s as if they’ve snuck in Ox Nche Thomas du Doit from the Springboks. It’s cruel.

64min At the hour mark, John Mitchell has changed his front row and his scrum half. And their early images are of an increasingly threatening Canada. For now England are holding on, and the yellow-card period is over with only one score against them.

61min Kelsey Clifford, the replacement England loose-head prop, is brought on so we can have a scrum in the absence of Botterman (who has two minutes left on her yellow card). We have said scrum and, of course, England absolutely destroy Canada yet again. Each player (and fan in white) lets out an enormous roar. That was massive.

60min Zoe Harrison earlier missed a conversion that she would have expected to kick – it came back off the left upright. This might be the time, then, to point out that Harrison’s kicking – til that very point – has been really excellent. She’s probably the best kicker in this tournament, from out of hand and in front of the posts. Her clearance kicks to lift pressure here have been outstanding.

59min Julia Schell and Olivia Apps combine out wide as Canada go from 22 to 22. England are on the ropes. They manage to prevent a try but infringe in so doing, and it gives Canada a five-metre lineout. They can’t make it count and Fabiola Forteza knocks on. That is a stinker for Canada, but they have four more minutes with a player advantage.

TRY! Canada 13 England 26

52min That is a huge tackle from Hannah Botterman, but in the excitement of the collision the prop has flipped Karen Paquin over in the process and she is shown a yellow card. England will be without their No1 for the next ten minutes.

Canada kick to the corner and spread it wide left through simple hands for Asia Hogan-Rochester to cross. And like that, it’s game on again.

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52min Hannah Botterman, who has been ace today, has been shown a yellow card for what’s been deemed a dangerous tackle on the Canada flanker, Karen Paquin. She hauls her up like a sack of potatoes and while the landing could have been worse, it’s too dangerous for Hollie Davidson’s liking. Canada have an extra player on the field and bring on Olivia Apps.

50min Matthews storms off the back of the ruck into the red wall. Two metres out. Talling has a go. One metre out. Third time lucky? You bet you. Abbie Ward, the lock, is on the scoresheet. That’s the fourth try for England and is that the final nail in this Canadian coffin? Rugby’s coming home? Well, Harrison has just missed her first conversion so maybe, just maybe there is a chance.

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48min Canada can breathe a huge sigh of relief as England, after roughly 49 phases inside the opposition’s 22, have knocked on. England do, however, have the penalty advantage. They’re going for a five-metre scrum. I think we know how this ends.

46min This is clearly now in England’s pocket (Owen Slot writes). The concern was that Canada would build up a head of steam – well, England stopped that short. Canada have now got to chase a game while at the same time they’ll be reluctant to change their first-choice players because their bench are a drop down in quality. England have a high class bench who should be able to lift their game.

43min Smart play from Alex Tessier, stopping just short of halfway and directing a kick that bobbled away from Natasha Hunt and into touch for a 50:22. But they lose the lineout and then Zoe Harrison demonstrates again that she is the longest punter in the game, returning play to near halfway.

41min 40 minutes to glory for England. Can Canada pull off a miraculous comeback? We’re about to find out.

Moving tale of England’s forgotten World Cup winner

In amongst all the learning sheets that have become his life, the following sentence is quite a mouthful but one he needs to conquer: “I am Gary Street and I have had a stroke. I have trouble speaking.”

Gary Street can say this sentence, but it’s hard for him (Owen Slot writes). It’s also hard watching the encouragement on the face of Helen, his wife. Yet it is actually also rather beautiful watching these two communicate because he so struggles with words, yet she almost always seems to understand.

2014 World Cup final revisited

The 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, held in Paris on August 17, was a landmark moment in the sport’s history. England faced Canada in a thrilling contest that showcased the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s rugby. England, who had fallen short in three consecutive finals, entered with determination and experience, while Canada, reaching their first final, carried momentum from an impressive campaign.

The match was fast-paced and physical, with both teams producing powerful forward play and exciting backline moves. Danielle Waterman and Emily Scarratt were standouts for England, the latter scoring a crucial try and kicking 11 points. Despite a spirited Canadian effort, including a try from Magali Harvey—later named World Player of the Year—England’s discipline and composure secured a 21–9 victory.

The win ended a 20-year wait for England and marked their second Women’s World Cup triumph, cementing their status as a powerhouse in the game.

Evolution of the Women’s Rugby World Cup

The opening match of the World Cup pitted England against the United States in a repeat of the first final. That occasion at the Stadium of Light was a world away from the tournament’s foundations in south Wales, where the inaugural edition took place 34 years ago, and today’s final will be of an even greater magnitude, attracting a women’s world-record attendance. Here is how the World Cup has evolved, told by those who were there.

40+1min Hannah Botterman wins another jackal penalty. Those are the type of moments that make her believe she is one of the world’s best players, not just the best loose-head, though she was omitted from the nominations for player of the year. And with that, half-time is taken and England lead 21-8. They are halfway there.

HALF-TIME Canada 8 England 21

37min England thought they had another unstoppable maul and a fourth try, but a TMO intervention has ruled that Maud Muir, the lifter, was offside — in front the jumper — when the maul began on the ground. It’s the right call.

36min Watching Canada so far reminds me of England’s men in 2019 (Alex Lowe writes). On that occasion, Eddie Jones’s team had to deliver their greatest performance, near on the perfect game, to defeat New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final. They could not reach those heights again in the final, where they ran into a South Africa team who were too powerful, too well drilled and emotionally unbreakable. Canada were sensational in their semi final win against the Black Ferns. They needed to be. We have seen here on this pitch today again how good New Zealand are. One England fan walking into the stadium was talking to a group of Kiwis and confessed, “We are so pleased not to be playing you”. Canada deserved their win last week but, like England in 2019, they appear to have already played their final.

35min England will be content with that as they lead 21-8 with half-time near. John Mitchell, the Red Roses head coach, said the difference between the wins over France in the Six Nations (43-42) and the World Cup warm-ups (40-6) was mindset: relentless and ruthless. He will be happy with how they are going for now.

34min England’s player of the match so far is Zoe Aldcroft (Owen Slot writes). It’s not just the number of tackles she is making, it’s the fact that they’re such dominant hits. There’s no go-forward for Canada when they go anywhere near her.

PENALTY! Canada 8 England 21

33min Canada decide to take the three, and it’s not the worst idea given their long spell in the England 22. England are not budging, so when that is the case, it’s always wise to get something for your efforts. De Goede nails the penalty and the gap is now within two converted scores.

33min This is more like it from Canada, who are putting a bit of a shunt on themselves on the England line. But the England defence is not letting the red hammer batter through the white wall, and it’s flanker Zoe Aldcroft who rises from the ruck having ripped the ball free on her own line. England clear, and Canada will try to build more waves of attack from the lineout.

28min Truth be told I was hoping for a tight final (Alex Lowe writes). An enthralling, gripping, tense game in which England were forced to dig deep, to show guts and character. When Canada scored early, it looked like England would need to demonstrate the resolve they only ever need to show in training matches against themselves. But that stunning solo try from Ellie Kildunne, her acceleration off the mark, her quick feet, her gliding pace to outstrip the covering defence, put to bed any thought that nerves or pressure would hinder England. That beautiful solo try infused England with such belief that they have rarely gone backwards since.

26min England look like they are about to shove the Canadian pack over at a scrum but the ball squirts loose. No matter, as Natasha Hunt passes to Alex Matthews and the No8 scores. Those are the two survivors from the Red Roses team that beat Canada in the 2014 final. At this rate, they will make it a double.

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26min It’s another hulking drive by England and Mo Hunt is held back like a toddler on reins as she was desperately scratching to do the ball down for England’s third try. Canada survive that but commit another offence. We have another England scrum. I suspect the next law break from Canada will result in a penalty try. England are dominant.

24min It’s held up, so England will have a scrum only five metres out. This is precarious for Canada.

23min Jess Breach makes huge ground by scything through the Canada defence. She is hauled down but England recycle, and the forwards begin shunting. They are stopped just shy of the line and the referee wants to consult with the TMO about the grounding. We wait…

21min Canada successfully repelled England’s first driving maul of the match, but the second ends with the familiar refrain of a Red Roses try (Elgan Alderman writes).

It would be wrong to suggest this is boring, boring England – we have already seen them ship it wide off first phase and make huge gains – but they’re also happy to win a World Cup without any additional aesthetics. And Zoe Harrison has kicked both conversions, whereas Sophie de Goede hit the woodwork, so England lead 14-5 at the end of the opening quarter.

19min Canada put up a mighty fine effort but there is no stopping that maul! England pocket the lineout and rumble, and rumble, and rumble, and it’s Amy Cokayne who comes up from the pile after gobbling up the white line. England showing their power there. Zoe Harrison has a difficult kick out wide, but nails it. So that’s two out of two from the tee for her, and England have a nine-point lead.

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18min The crowd are living every moment of this, like a Greek chorus. There was just a sequence where a loose England pass bobbled along the floor and each roll elicited a pantomime sigh. Everyone is fully invested in the action.

16min Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada who used to be governor of the Bank of England, is here watching his compatriots run the ball from their own tryline. Interest rates high all round when that happens.

14min England have the ball over the whitewash by the referee Hollie Davidson has spotted a knock-on by Abbie Ward. It was her second-row partner Morwenna Talling who barreled towards the line, just short, with Tatyana Heard dotting the loose ball down. Instead, Canada quickly get the ball from the scrum and run downfield, easing the pressure.

12min England have their tails up and are starting to take control. Jess Breach screeches down the line and gets whacked by Karen Paquin, but the final touch is off a red shirt so England have a lineout inside the opposition 22.

9min Ellie Kildunne was already the crowd favourite before she ghosted through, from nothing, from more than 40 metres out. That really was something. She stepped between two for the initial line break and there seemed to be cover converging on her, but she swerved infield and away. A tremendous score by the full back. England 7-5 up inside ten minutes.

8min England weren’t behind for long. It’s Ellie Kildunne, the Lionel Messi of rugger, and my word she acts like it. Kildunne and dusted. She picks up the ball on the left, and whizzes between a gaggle of red shirts, who can barely lay a finger on her. 30 metres out? No problem. The cowgirl rides it to glory and Zoe Harrison adds the extras. England lead.

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5min That wasn’t in the script! It’s a gift for Canada from the England lineout, with Fabiola Forteza making the break in the left channel and then offloads wide to Asia Hogan-Rochester on the flank, who scurries over and starts dancing. Quite right too. They have just scored the opening points of the World Cup final. The kick from Sophie de Goede is missed so the deficit for England is five.

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4min From the resulting scrum, England fold up Canada, win the ball, and opt to kick long into the Canada 22. The team in red just about keep hold of the ball under some relentless pressure from England. Eventually, Canada are forced to hack clear and England have a lineout just outside their own 22 . . . which goes straight back to opposition…

2min Canada have the early ball from an England kick off and do well from the lineout out on the left. It’s a crisp move that works the play to the opposite side of the field, before the ball comes into the centre and is knocked on by Alex Tessier.

1min The 2025 World Cup final at Twickers is underway. Let’s have it.

Cowboy hats, music of rock, and opportunity knocks

I was at a book festival in Norfolk last night talking on stage to Ben Youngs about his career (Alex Lowe writes). The first question when I opened it up to the audience was about the women’s game. I then spoke after the event to a lot of club members and coaches about the final and specifically the challenge of capitalising on the occasion (and a potential England win). The RFU has invested money into grassroots facilities, which is key, but so too is creative thinking. Too often, the pro women’s game has just sought to copy the men’s, to its detriment.

This World Cup has proven that fresh and targeting thinking can work wonders. Twickenham today is a riot of Cowboy hats and rock music. It has been packed since 11.30am. The energy and passion is remarkable.

There is no point in clubs and the grassroots game applying all the same recruitment strategies that have always worked for boys. One example. I spoke to a Norfolk club coach who didn’t know how his team could go from no women’s section to fielding an adult or girls team. Simple. Ditch local rivalries and partner up to start with a district team. Just make sure excited youngsters have somewhere to go and do not waste the legacy, as the RFU did in 2003.

The Red Roses and the whole World Cup gives the game a priceless opportunity.

The teams are out at Twickenham. The crowd is going wild for the players. Canada in all red. England in all white. It’s a sight to behold. Here come the anthems. “OOOOOOOh Canadaaaaaaaaa”.

Who won the anthems? (Elgan Alderman writes) England’s was louder, unsurprisingly, but you should have seen the smiles on the Canadian faces, and the way that energy pulsed through the line. The match that has been talked about for three years, the packed Twickenham for a game of women’s rugby, is here. Enjoy the game.

Chat shows, big deals and £20k bonus

England’s Red Roses will each earn a £20,000 bonus if they beat Canada to win the World Cup.

Victory against Canada, the team ranked No2 in the world — behind England — would open up a slate of new opportunities for the Red Roses players and give them a bumper payday. Even if England lose, they will be well remunerated.

The Times understands that every player will now receive at least £15,000 for participating in the World Cup, regardless of the final result. Each player will take £5,000 for making Mitchell’s 32-player squad, then an extra £10,000 if they lose the final, or £15,000 each if they win it.

This deal represents an increase of £5,000 from the agreement for the previous tournament in 2022.

Good vibes only at Twickenham

In the stadium, it feels like the kind of atmosphere you recognise from an Olympics (Owen Slot writes). That’s partly because it’s sunny and warm (and rugby here is normally dark and cold), but it’s also the essential feeling of joy in the crowd. It’s hard to put your finger on it, on what exactly it feels like and why. I suppose there are a lot of people here who have never been to an England international before and are just loving being part of such a big thing. Of course, it’s a day for history too.

There’s now a guitarist on the pitch doing Livin’ on a Prayer and it feels like the entire crowd joining in. Great fun.

The Red Roses coach who wanted to beat up England’s men

There are two snapshots of John Mitchell’s coaching career in England that show a different man in a different time (Elgan Alderman writes). In 1997, aged 33, he was appointed men’s forwards coach, posing next to Roger Uttley, Bill Beaumont, Clive Woodward and Fran Cotton. In 2025, aged 61, the women’s head coach performed the lawnmower dance move, wearing a cowboy hat, on TikTok.

Mitchell has been a coach for almost half his life. He wasn’t even 40 when he lost his job as All Blacks head coach and has since worked in Australia, Japan, South Africa and the United States. It is England, however, to where he has returned time and again, describing his outlook as English rather than Kiwi, as an assistant to Woodward and Eddie Jones before leading the Red Roses.

Meet Canada’s goalkicking second row

A tall man with a Canadian accent and a Dutch name sits in a Breton cafe, one mile from the home of English rugby (Elgan Alderman writes). The subject of his T-shirt is his daughter. Sophie de Goede will represent the Maple Leafs against the Red Roses at Twickenham, when Canada meet England in the women’s Rugby World Cup final.

Hans de Goede was Canada’s captain at the inaugural men’s Rugby World Cup in 1987 and he is not the only former national leader opposite me. Stephanie White, his wife, played at the first two women’s World Cups, in 1991 and 1994. Their daughter, Sophie, is not Canada’s captain any more, but she is the star of the only team standing between England and a world title. An hour before Mum and Dad sat down with The Times their daughter was named on the three-woman shortlist for world XVs player of the year.

Don’t miss the opening minutes of the match (Elgan Alderman writes). Canada love to start fast and have averaged four first-half tries per game at the World Cup, the best return of all nations, while England have averaged the most in the second half (4.8).

Canada have averaged 15.6 offloads per game, compared to England’s 6.0, so we may see the Maple Leafs chuck the ball about a bit more than the Red Roses. As for the set piece, Canada have won all 33 of their scrums in the tournament – the only team with a 100 per cent success rate – but they are now up against the team who have won 37 per cent of scrums against the head.

How Canada ‘crowdfunded’ way to final

It was one of those days where the eyes had it (Elgan Alderman writes). Twenty-three pairs of eyes trained on the Ashton Gate crowd during the anthem before swinging around to stare at each other. Beneath them, smiles that told nothing of pressure. New Zealand, six-times world champions, could not cope and Canada booked their place in the World Cup final at Twickenham.

Canada thrillingly blitzed the Black Ferns on Friday night, taking a 31-7 lead and holding on for 34-19. They won all 106 of their attacking rucks, and their average ruck speed of 2.45sec is the fastest at the World Cup and will challenge England’s defence like no other as they seek only their fourth victory against the Red Roses (and the first since 2016).

What is the record attendance for a women’s rugby match?

The previous final attracted a women’s-record crowd of 42,579 to Eden Park in Auckland (Elgan Alderman writes). The current marker is 58,498, from England’s Six Nations match against France in 2023, and the home of English rugby is set to house an 82,000 sellout today.

The tournament has smashed attendance records, more than tripling the total crowds at the 2022 edition. The opening night between England and USA in Sunderland drew 42,723, and the semi-finals at Ashton Gate averaged about 25,000 a match.

Canada’s journey to the final

Canada began the tournament strongly in pool B, beating Fiji 65-7, Wales 42-0, and Scotland 40-19 to finish top of their pool. In the quarter-finals they faced Australia and won convincingly 46-5, showing both depth and discipline. Then came a major upset in the semi-final: Canada defeated defending champions New Zealand 34-19 to reach the final for only the second time in their history.

Historically, Canada have been one of the most consistent teams in women’s rugby. They have played in every Women’s Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1991. Their previous best finish was in 2014, when they reached the final but were beaten by, you guessed it, England.

The 2025 campaign has therefore been both a continuation of their tradition of strong World Cup performances and a breakthrough moment, as they aim to win their first-ever title against a dominant England side at Twickenham.

England’s road to Twickenham

England, as hosts, dominated Pool A in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, defeating the United States 69-7, Samoa 92-3, and Australia 47-7 to finish top of their pool. In the quarter-finals they brushed aside Scotland 40-8, displaying both power and precision. The semi-final against France was more demanding, but inspired by Ellie Kildunne’s two superb tries, the Red Roses secured a 35-17 victory to book their place in the final at Twickenham, where they will face Canada.

This achievement continues England’s proud World Cup tradition. The Red Roses have appeared in every Women’s Rugby World Cup final since 2010, winning the trophy in 1994 and again in 2014. They also reached the finals in 2017 and 2022, narrowly missing out to New Zealand on both occasions. With a rich history of consistency at the highest level, England’s 2025 run reflects both their dominance at home and their long-standing status as a powerhouse of women’s rugby.

Will they finally get that third title?

Women’s rugby is how chiefs want the men to look

The temptation at this point of big women’s team competitions is to compare the quality with that of the men’s (Owen Slot writes). Best practice, generally, is to acknowledge: it’s not better or worse, it’s different. Just for a minute, though, and possibly unwisely, let’s ignore best practice and look at where women’s rugby is better than men’s.

First, let’s wave farewell to those who have already departed to the comments section fulminating with rage. The rest of you, hang in there if you can bear to.

Three years of greatness — now Red Roses need their crowning moment

What will be the scene on Sunday morning? (Elgan Alderman writes) Will the dreamers of a revolution wake up to teeming mini-rugby sessions across the land, captivated by Saturday at Twickenham, regardless of the outcome? England have long excelled on the social side but the ultimate sporting success has evaded them. It’s bloomin’ time the Red Roses won a World Cup.

To be a women’s athlete is to be judged by two units: sporting triumphs and bums on seats. A world-record women’s rugby crowd is already baked into the final analysis. The Red Roses have achieved variations of greatness, with a solitary defeat in their past 63 matches, spotlighting women’s rugby like never before. But they have not been world champions since 2014 and they are professional athletes, expected to win.

England arrive at the home of rugger

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Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceFerns and France full of fun

Quite the hors d’oeuvres at Twickenham. New Zealand and France flow and the large crowd love it. Feels like sport, not business… very enjoyable game. In the end it’s New Zealand who pick up the bronze medal, beating the French 42-26

The Ruck podcast: World Cup final preview

Alfie Reynolds and Elgan Alderman ask if the Red Roses can finally get over the line and become world champions. How big a burden are the psychological scars from previous failures? Will it be a seminal moment in the history of women’s rugby in England? And, has this tournament broken through to new audiences outside of rugby circles?

Alfie also chats to Red Roses legend Rocky Clark who admits it will be an emotional moment watching them play in front of a sold-out Twickenham.

There are 14 players in the 23 who were involved in the 2022 final: a 34-31 defeat by New Zealand that is the Red Roses’ only loss in their past 63 Tests. Canada, the world’s No2-ranked side, knocked out New Zealand in the semi-finals last weekend and will look to break English hearts again.

The Red Roses are seeking a 33rd successive victory this weekend, extending their own world record, and do so with a clean bill of health. In the past two finals, both defeats by New Zealand, injuries have affected them. Three years ago, they didn’t have a fully fit specialist scrum half available.

Megan Jones, who this week was named on the three-woman shortlist for world XVs player of the year with Canada’s Sophie de Goede and New Zealand’s Jorja Miller, will have started every match of the World Cup for England at outside centre. Jess Breach will also have been an ever present on the left wing.

Canada v England team news

Here are the teams taking to the field this afternoon.

Canada XV 15 Julia Schell; 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alex Tessier, 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester; 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier; 1 McKinley Hunt, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Sophie de Goede, 5 Courtney O’Donnell, 6 Caroline Crossley, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Fabiola Forteza. Replacements 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Laetitia Royer, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

England XV 15 Ellie Kildunne; 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews. Replacements 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.

Welcome to the women’s Rugby World Cup final

Hi there, and welcome to the biggest event in the women’s rugby calendar. It is, of course, the World Cup final. Where is it? Twickenham. Or Allianz Stadium, if you simply have to. Twickers, if you feel the need to. The home of rugger. Who’s there? Well, all four semi-finalists, but we’re here to focus on the winners. It’s England. The Red Roses. Of course it is. They are in yet another final. A fourth in a row. But they have lost the past two. Can they make it third time lucky and add a third World Cup crown to the trophy cabinet on home soil? In their way is Canada, who humbled New Zealand in the semis. It’s going to be a spectacular occasion. Stay with us for the latest updates and analysis from the capital.

England v Canada — as it happened

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