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Canada halts England's record 39-match win streak in a gripping 26-26
rugby draw

   The Associated Press | Posted: September 19, 2026 6:44 PM |
   Last Updated: September 19

   The teams will meet twice more in Canada on, Oct. 16 in
   Toronto, Oct. 23 in Ottawa

   Image | 2296081762

   Caption: Olivia Apps of Canada passes the ball during the WXV
   Global Series match between England Red Roses and Canada on
   Saturday in Exeter, England. (David Rogers/Getty Images)
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   England's record 39-match winning streak in women's rugby was
   stopped by Canada after a thrilling 26-26 draw in WXV on
   Saturday.
   Their first match since England won the final of the 2025
   Women's Rugby World Cup a year ago was far more compelling. The
   score was knotted at 5, 12, 19 at halftime, and 26 with a
   quarter to go at overcast Sandy Park.
   England spent most of the last quarter on attack and was held
   up over the tryline. Canada brought more pressure on itself
   with errors but held out the Red Roses, who failed to win a
   test for the first time since the final of the 2022 World Cup
   against New Zealand but extended their unbeaten streak to 40
   matches.
   Outstanding support play and pick and goes marked most of the
   eight tries, split evenly, as England winger Claudia
   Moloney-MacDonald and Canada prop DaLeaka Menin picked up
   first-half doubles.
   But defense dominated after halftime. A converted try from a
   maul finished by first-time starting hooker Bryony Field put
   England back in front and four minutes later Canada scrumhalf
   Olivia Apps finished a break by lock Sophie de Goede to tie the
   score again. At fulltime, neither team looked happy.
   "It was amazing test match rugby, which is what we want. We
   want a battle," England captain Megan Jones told the BBC.
   The teams will meet twice more in Canada, on Oct. 16 in Toronto
   and Oct. 23 in Ottawa.
   England will host New Zealand next weekend at Twickenham.
   The Black Ferns warmed up by routing Scotland 66-14 with 10
   tries in Edinburgh.

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