After 41 matches without defeat, the Red Roses have finally been beaten, with Canada claiming a dramatic 24-21 victory in Toronto.
But is this a warning sign for England, or exactly what women’s international rugby needs?
In this week’s special edition of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by The Guardian’s Sarah Rendell to examine Canada’s remarkable rise, what went wrong for John Mitchells world champions and how England can respond in Friday’s rematch in Ottawa.
England’s unbeaten run ends
We discuss…
- How Canada overturned England’s advantage to claim a historic victory
- Whether England have become too reliant on forward dominance
- What John Mitchell needs to change
- Whether defeat could make the Red Roses stronger
The rise of Canada
After losing the 2025 World Cup final, Canada have now drawn and beaten England in successive meetings.
How have they closed the gap so quickly, and can they establish themselves as the dominant force in women’s rugby?
We explore the importance of regular competitive internationals, growing women’s rugby beyond its traditional strongholds and creating meaningful rivalries ahead of the 2029 World Cup.
England v Canada – Ottawa preview
Can England bounce back on Friday, or will Canada make it two consecutive victories over the world champions?
With the Premiership Women’s Rugby season approaching, we discuss…
Join the debate
Is England losing actually good for women’s rugby? Can Canada win again in Ottawa? And who will win the PWR? Let us know!
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