England 26-26 Canada: Red Roses' 39-game winning streak ended in thrilling Rugby World Cup final repeat
Canada took their first step towards avenging their Rugby World Cup final defeat to England by ending the Red Roses' 39-Test winning streak in a gripping 26-26 draw in Exeter.
Eight days short of the one-year anniversary of England's 33-13 triumph at Twickenham, the sides treated a sold-out Sandy Park to an absorbing WXV Global Series clash featuring eight tries that went down to the final play with the clock in the red.
First-half doubles from England wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Canada prop Daleaka Menin, plus scores from Hannah Botterman and Lizzie Gibson, saw the sides locked at 19-19 at the break after a six-try opening half.
Bryony Field's second Test try looked to have laid the foundations for a trademark second-half surge from the Red Roses, but Canada refused to roll over, striking back through scrum-half Olivia Apps.
England laid siege to the Canada line but could not find a decisive breakthrough as the Canucks kicked the final play dead to avoid defeat against the Red Roses on English soil for the first time.
The Red Roses will hope to return to winning ways when they host New Zealand at Allianz Stadium next Saturday before travelling to Tests in Toronto and Ottawa against Canada, who face France next week.
England head coach John Mitchell:
"We are in a Test series, which is really good for us.
"We need to get better, and there is a greater purpose than this one Test match.
"This is ideal for us and allows us to stay focused."
Player of the match Daleaka Menin:
"It was a big challenge, I am a little tired. We didn't get exactly what we wanted but it was a great game of rugby.
"We have two more against them so we will see what happens. This week we were really trying to push ourselves.
"We really wanted to prove something here. This is just the start of this journey."
England captain Meg Jones:
"It was amazing Test match rugby. That is what we want, it was a battle.
"Our discipline let us down, we didn't get in the right areas, and execute.
"We have got two more shots [at Canada]. We are just looking to grow each time we play because the game gives you the best feedback.
"We will go again next week."
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19 of September 2026
