England's Women's Rugby Team Loses for the First Time in 41 Matches

England's women's rugby team, the Red Roses, had not lost in 41 matches, a run that began almost four years ago. It ended in Toronto, where Canada won 24-21 in the WXV Global Series, thanks to a late try by replacement Shoshanah Seumanutafa. A crowd of 18,621 watched, a record for a stand-alone women's match in North America.

Canada had already stopped England's winning run at 39 matches with a 26-26 draw in Exeter in September. England had not lost a game since November 2022, which was when New Zealand beat them in the World Cup final. It was England's first defeat by Canada since 2016 and their first against Canada in Canada. Before the match, England had won their last 11 games away from home.

Canada's Savannah Bauder scored first in the 15th minute while England's Zoe Harrison was in the sin-bin, which means she was off the field for a short time for a rule break. Late in the first half, England hit back with tries by Maddie Feaunati and Harrison while Canada's Laetitia Royer was in the sin-bin, and led 14-5 at half-time. Early in the second half Canada's Alysha Corrigan scored a stylish solo try, and Sarah Bern answered for England to keep a nine-point lead. Then Canada's DaLeaka Menin scored just after the hour mark, which made the finish tense. With three minutes left, Canada attacked from halfway after a fumble put Harrison's clearing kick under pressure. Seumanutafa charged down the left wing to complete the comeback.

England's head coach, John Mitchell, who lost for the first time since being appointed in late 2023, said the team was disappointed but there were very good things in the performance. He said the loss frees the team up and allows it to find more, and that he knows the group has more in them.

The teams meet again in Ottawa on Friday, October 23, before England finish their 2026 WXV Global Series against the USA in New Jersey on October 30.