England claim the World Cup title after a 33-13 victory over Canada at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium, home to a crowd of around 80,000 spectators, witnessed England complete a dominant run to the Women’s Rugby World Cup final title with a 33-13 win over Canada. The Canadians opened the scoring with a try from Asia Hogan-Rochester in the 6th minute, giving the Toronto-born forward the opening lead for a brief moment. It would be the only time Canada led in the match as England controlled the pace, territory, and momentum for the remainder of the day.
Canada’s brave campaign meets a defining test
Canada’s journey to the final was marked by grit and unexpected momentum, including standout performances against rugby powerhouses. The team arrived in London with a mission to push the sport’s footprint in North America and to show they could contend on rugby’s biggest stage. “We started a bit slowly, and we didn’t impose our rhythm,” said captain Alex Tessier after the game. “We missed a few connections. There wasn’t panic in our game, but we didn’t play our style, and that cost us the victory.”
Despite the setback, the Canadian squad finished the tournament with pride, highlighting a program that has made rapid strides in recent years. Tessier also credited the team’s resilience: “I’m very proud of my teammates; we had a very good tournament. We didn’t get to finish the job today.” Canada’s performance came in the context of a sport still catching its breath in a country with a smaller player pool and fewer resources than England, which remains a frequent presence in the final stages of the event.
England’s clinical display and standout moments
England seized control as the match progressed. The hosts leveraged their depth, experience, and set-piece dominance to tilt the balance. Two tries from England winger/centre Alex Matthews, paired with accurate kicking from Zoe Harrison, proved decisive. Harrison converted four attempts, helping transform pressure into a widening gap on the scoreboard. The tactical discipline paid off, as England converted opportunities more reliably than Canada throughout the contest.
Midway through the second half, Canada crafted a brief moment of numerical parity when England were temporarily reduced to 14 players, yet Hogan-Rochester struck again in the 53rd minute to reclaim Canada’s second try. Despite the numerically advantaged spell, Canada could not capitalize on the added pressure, and England’s defense held firm for the remainder of the match.
Coaching and player reflections
England’s captain, Zoe Aldcroft, spoke for many after the final: “It’s fantastic to win here at home, in front of 80,000 people, to inspire a nation and to put women’s rugby on the map.” The sentiment underscored not only the victory but the broader significance of a home triumph in front of a massive audience.
Canada’s head coach, Kevin Rouet, acknowledged the gaps that decided the result: “Against England, you must strike when opportunities present themselves, and we missed a few today.” He added that some elements which had been crucial for Canada earlier in the tournament — such as lineouts and scrum dominance — did not come together in this final, making the path to victory steeper against a well-prepared opponent.
What this means for the rugby horizon
Canada’s final appearance reinforces its status among rugby’s global elite, even as the team falls short of a first World Cup title. The program’s trajectory remains upward, with previous dramatic upsets and a track record of meaningful wins, including noteworthy performances against the defending champions, New Zealand, during the tournament. Canada had also secured Olympic silver in rugby sevens in Paris, illustrating the breadth of talent across formats.
New Zealand captured bronze by defeating France in the third-place playoff, rounding out a tournament that showcased both the growth of women’s rugby worldwide and the persistent gap between the sport’s traditional powerhouses and emerging programs like Canada.
Looking ahead
As Canada builds toward future World Cups and continued Olympic involvement, the experience of a World Cup final will be a powerful turning point. The team’s leadership, depth, and strategy will be tested in the years to come, with continued investment and development likely to close the gap with the sport’s strongest nations. England, meanwhile, will carry the momentum of a home victory into future campaigns, while the broader kickoff around women’s rugby continues to gain support and visibility on the world stage.
