England’s Rugby Women’s Unbeaten Run Ends Against Canada

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

England’s women’s rugby team experienced their first loss in four years as Canada narrowly defeated them 33-26, ending England’s 39-match winning streak. Canada’s late try and conversion by Olivia Apps secured the win, underscoring the rising competitiveness in international women’s rugby.

England’s women’s rugby team suffered their first defeat in four years as their 39-match winning streak came to an end in a closely contested match against Canada. The game, played on Sunday, remained tightly balanced, with the score tied at 26-26 after 60 minutes of play.

Canada secured the victory with a crucial try from Olivia Apps in the latter stages of the match. This decisive score, followed by a successful conversion, ultimately put Canada ahead and ended England’s long-standing dominance.

England’s efforts included two tries from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, with additional tries contributed by Hannah Botterman and Bryony Field. Despite these strong performances, England could not maintain their unbeaten run against a resilient Canadian side.

The match highlighted the competitive nature of women’s international rugby, with both teams demonstrating high levels of skill and determination. Canada’s ability to respond under pressure proved pivotal in closing out the closely fought contest.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.