England’s Crimson Roses put 11 years of damage to an finish to clinch the 2025 Ladies’s Rugby World Cup title vs Canada
England’s Crimson Roses grew to become Ladies’s Rugby World Cup champions for the primary time in 11 years as a pulsating ultimate towards Canada at Twickenham noticed the hosts show medical to win 33-13.
Performed in entrance of a report crowd of 81,885, full-back Ellie Kildunne, hooker Amy Cokayne, No 8 Alex Matthews (two) and lock Abbie Ward scored tries because the Crimson Roses displayed their energy and ruthlessness. Fly-half Zoe Harrison kicked 4 conversions additionally.
Canada scored twice via wing Asia Hogan-Rochester, however with the rating at 26-13 within the second half they did not make England pay whereas prop Hannah Botterman was within the sin-bin following a tip-tackle, regardless of two gilt-edged probabilities to take action.
Crimson Roses – Tries: Kildunne (8), Cokayne (19), Matthews (26, 69), Ward (50). Cons: Harrison (8, 20, 27, 70).
Canada – Tries: Hogan-Rochester (5, 53). Pens: De Goede (34).
As a substitute, England kicked on once more as soon as restored to fifteen gamers, clinching emotional glory on house soil after dropping finals in 2017 and 2022.
Canada started confidently with ball in hand, carving out a primary assault within the 22 of the ultimate when wing Alysha Corrigan sprinted ahead, however the transfer was quickly over when centre Florance Symonds knocked on.
Undeterred, Canada’s early stress was rewarded with the opening attempt within the fifth minute as Hogan-Rochester completed within the nook after claiming a intelligent off-load. Kicker Sophie de Goede was unable to make it the total haul, although, as she was very unfortunate in putting the submit with the conversion.
Canada’s Asia Hogan-Rochester scored the opening attempt of the ultimate
Out of nothing, England have been quickly forward via Kildunne’s brilliance. The complete-back collected the ball with a wealth of defenders in entrance of her, however proceeded to show frighteningly good footwork to step and speed up her means over underneath the posts for a marvellous particular person attempt.
Harrison transformed for the lead, with an end-to-end begin seeing either side then miss out on alternatives – England denied a possible attempt as a result of a knock-on, whereas a pleasant Canada backline transfer after a maul had roared ahead was undone by full-back Julia Schell kicking out on the total.
Ellie Kildunne produced a powerful particular person attempt for a fast England response
England’s subsequent likelihood got here off a Tatyana Heard break off a deep line-out throw, catching Canada offside. The hosts kicked into the nook, and simply when Canada appeared to have halted the maul, England managed to swivel spherical and rating via Cokayne.
Harrison transformed beautifully, whereas a TMO assessment got here subsequent as Ward nearly scored however for very good defence by Canada flanker Karen Paquin.
England’s Amy Cokayne scored their second simply when Canada appeared to have stored the rolling maul out
Within the twenty sixth minute, England’s scrum lastly received going, marching ahead for repeated penalties earlier than scrum-half Natasha Hunt broke and off-loaded for Matthews, one of many Crimson Roses’ world champions from 2014, to gather and dive over.
Harrison’s conversion left Canada 21-5 behind, and the guests’ response was two sustained assaults within the 22.
The primary was stopped by England as their defence proved a wall, however Canada have been then inches from a attempt as pick-and-go carries on the road appeared sure to offer strategy to a rating, just for Harrison to pinch a priceless turnover – doubtlessly illegally – for a brazen escape.
England’s Alex Matthews scored twice within the ultimate because the hosts proved ruthless after they wanted to
Previous the half-hour, Canada took three factors after they have been on supply through De Goede after England infringed on the breakdown inside their very own 22.
However a Botterman breakdown penalty allowed England to kick into the nook once more earlier than the top of the half. A easy driving maul attempt for the Crimson Roses adopted, however it was dominated out for Maud Muir obstruction on the maul’s arrange.
Canada ended the half in possession, however Botterman proved a thorn of their aspect once more by clamping down onto breakdown ball to pressure one other turnover, leaving the rating 21-8 on the break.
England fly-half Zoe Harrison kicked fantastically all through the ultimate
Canada began the second half brightly when captain Alexandra Tessier produced an excellent 50:22, however the ensuing line-out throw was pinched by Ward as England continued to win the large moments.
England missed an opportunity when Botterman was stopped brief and Harrison then knocked on because the ball went large. However play went again for a penalty, which prompted the Crimson Roses to name for a five-metre scrum.
From that, England performed on the line and Ward leapt ahead and reached out to attain because the hosts confirmed their ruthless aspect.
Botterman blotted her copy e book by getting sin-binned for a poor tip-tackle on Paquin nearly straight after, and Canada scored instantly as Hogan-Rochester confirmed nice tempo to achieve the nook.
Hannah Botterman was sin-binned for a poor tip-tackle, permitting Canada again into the competition, however they did not take their probabilities
De Goede’s powerful conversion veered large, however Canada have been on the assault once more when substitute scrum-half Olivia Apps countered. The Maple Leaves in some way failed to attain with large house out large, although, whereas their follow-up assault additionally ended after massive England defence adopted a succession of penalty concessions.
As a substitute, England responded in sometimes deadly trend, scoring the subsequent time they have been positioned within the 22 once more via Matthews with 11 minutes to play – although replays appeared to point out she might not have really grounded the ball.
From there, there was no means again for Canada, as England’s phenomenal house help cheered them to the end line.
Kabeya: It is a pinch-me second | Hunt: That is unimaginable
Participant of the match, Crimson Roses flanker Sadia Kabey, mentioned:
“It’s amazing! Thank you to everyone who came out here today.
“It is a pinch-me second. It has been years and years within the making, I’m so completely happy we might pull it off.
“All props to Canada. They are a great side and they put up a great fight here today.”
England scrum-half Natasha Hunt instructed BBC Sport:
“This is unimaginable. This whole day, this whole tournament. I could not be more proud of the girls. I’s so overwhelmed and I’m absolutely buzzing. I hope everyone is here to stay for women’s rugby.”
On head coach John Mitchell: “He has just kept it simple. He has been honest, sometimes brutally honest but I like that. He has got this week bang on. We played on the 16th member of the team – the crowd.
“I do not assume any of us might have imagined it will have been like this. That may be a testomony to everybody behind the scenes and those that turned up at this time.”
England’s Abbie Ward told BBC Sport:
“Actually as quickly because the whistle went I simply burst into tears. It has actually been such a special occasion. A sold-out crowd at Twickenham. It was electrical, in entrance of associates, household, it is superb.
“The last final loss, that was then. This is a new team, this is a new chapter of women’s rugby. It wasn’t about righting wrongs. This is our little moment today. It’s about this, this team has been special, what we’ve done has been special. The support, the crowd, the friends and family involved, it’s been magical.”
