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It wasn’t quite a victory, but Canada brought England’s record 39-test win streak to a halt in Exeter on Saturday. In their first meeting since the 2025 World Cup Final, the two sides went two-to-two and scrapped to a 26-all draw in front of a sold out crowd at Sandy Park.
Canada were quickest to the breach the tryline, with Lizzie Gibson crashing over from close range after a sustained period of pressure from the Maple Leafs. England’s reply came soon after, a double-miss pass from Zoe Harrison finding Claudia MacDonald in space on the left wing to make it five points apiece.
Back to the other side of the pitch and Canada were knocking on the door. DaLeaka Menin – playing on her club’s home pitch – punched over to nudge the Canadians ahead. Like clockwork, England came roaring back and Menin’s opposite Hannah Botterman spun her way over for the try.
MacDonald nearly had a double on a skillful grubber off the boot of Helena Rowland, but the winger knocked-on in-goal. What looked a stunning 50-meter individual effort from Asia Hogan-Rochester was then called back for a forward pass.
The pendulum swung back to England and after Sadia Kabeya made hard yards up the middle, MacDonald would get her brace while looking for work on the opposite wing. But on the stroke of halftime Menin scored her second, the prop muscling in under the posts to make an easy conversion for Sophie de Goede. After 40 minutes the two sides were deadlocked at 19-all.
It was more arm wrestling in the second half, until Bryony Field was driven over at the back of a rolling maul. Just shy of the hour mark de Goede showed her class, fending off two would-be tacklers to find Olivia Apps free on the inside for a runaway score. England pressed in the dying minutes but the Canadian defense held out, and with time up on the clock the Maple Leafs opted to take the draw rather than attempt to run out of their own end.
Both teams are back in action next Saturday. England square off against New Zealand at Twickenham, while Canada heads to La Rochelle to take on France. The Canadians will have two more opportunities to defeat their rivals next month, as the Red Roses travel for the Rugby Rematch tour with dates in Toronto and Ottawa on October 16th and 23rd respectively.
| SCORING |
ENGLAND 26
Tries (4) – C. MacDonald 2 (10′, 33′), H. Botterman (21′), B. Field (54′)
Cons (3) – Z. Harrison 3/4 (22′, 34′, 55′)
CANADA 26
Tries (4) – L. Gibson (6′), D. Menin 2 (15′, 40′), O. Apps (58′)
Cons (3) – S. de Goede 3/4 (16′, 40’+1′, 59′)
| TEAMS |
ENGLAND
1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Abi Burton, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews, 9 Lucy Packer, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Claudia MacDonald, 12 Helena Rowland, 13 Megan Jones (capt.), 14 Jess Breach, 15 Ellie Kildunne
Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Marlie Packer, 22 Flo Robinson, 23 Holly Aitchison
CANADA
1 Mikiela Nelson, 2 Kiki Idowu, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Rachel Smith, 7 Julia Omokhuale, 8 Lizzie Gibson, 9 Olivia Apps, 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Charity Williams, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Florence Symonds, 14 Asia Hogan-Rochester, 15 Claire Gallagher
Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Sophie McDonald, 18 Brooke Rempel, 19 Fabiola Forteza, 20 Pamphinette Buisa, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Justine Pelletier, 23 Savannah Bauder
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, September 19
Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter
Kickoff: 15:00 local
Weather: sunny, 66°F (19°C), wind SW 13-20mph (21-32km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistants: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Alexandra Ferré (France)
TMO: Matteo Liparini (Italy)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
