England have been crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup champions for the third time after a dominant 33–13 victory over Canada at Twickenham.
Roared on by a record crowd of 81,885 at the Allianz Stadium in west London, the Red Roses delivered a commanding performance to end an 11-year wait for the title. Tries from Alex Matthews (2), Ellie Kildunne, Amy Cokayne and Abbie Ward sealed a comfortable win for the hosts, who led by 13 points at half-time.
Canada responded with a spirited second-half effort, applying pressure through extended phases, but Matthews’ second try halted any hopes of a comeback. A successful conversion pushed England’s lead to 20 points, firmly securing their place as world champions.
The victory marks England’s first World Cup title since 2014, following painful final defeats in 2017 and 2022. Entering the tournament as world number one, they now add a third title to their legacy.
Tributes poured in following the match. The Prince and Princess of Wales congratulated both teams, calling Canada’s performance “outstanding” and saying both sides “should be so proud.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the Red Roses for showing “the very best of England” and inspiring a generation. London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who watched the final alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, also hailed the win as “another proud moment for women’s rugby.”
England flanker Sadia Kabeya, named player of the match, told the BBC: “It’s a pinch me moment. It’s been years and years in the making. I am so happy we could pull it off.”
Abbie Ward added: “Honestly as soon as the whistle went I just burst into tears. It’s truly been such a special day. A sold-out crowd at Twickenham. It was electric, in front of friends, family, it’s amazing. The last final loss, that was then. This is a new team, this is a new chapter of women’s rugby.”
