A Historic Night at TD Place
The win capped off the Rugby Rematch Tour of the WXV Global Series, with Canada following up last week’s 24-21 victory in Toronto with another statement performance on home soil. It marked the first time England has dropped two consecutive matches since 2016, and the second time in just over a year that Canada has handed the Red Roses a loss, following a 26-26 draw that snapped England’s 39-game winning streak back in Exeter last September.
Canadian captain de Goede led the charge with two tries, while Julia Omokhuale, DaLeaka Menin and Savannah Bauder also found the try line to seal the result in front of a roaring hometown crowd.
The Crowd Brought the Energy
While Toronto’s 18,621 fans set a North American attendance record for a women’s rugby match the week before, the Ottawa crowd held nothing back. Fans stayed loud through every momentum swing and even paused the action to serenade England captain Megan Jones with Happy Birthday as she turned 30.
Omokhuale, named Player of the Game, credited the fans directly for the win. She described the crowd as feeling like a 16th player on the field and said seeing young girls in the stands watching Canada beat England on home turf was one of the most exciting parts of the night.
A Sport on the Rise
A Sport on the Rise
Players on both sides noted how far the sport has come. Olivia Apps, who was part of Canada’s squad in the 2025 World Cup final against England, said the support from the rugby community over the past year has been incredible to witness firsthand.
Even England’s Emma Sing acknowledged the atmosphere, saying it was inspiring to see such large, passionate crowds over the two matches and that the energy clearly gave Canada an edge.
How the Match Unfolded
The first half was tightly contested, with Canada holding a narrow 12-7 lead at the break after tries from Omokhuale and de Goede answered an early score from England’s Maddie Feaunati. England pushed back early in the second half to briefly lead 17-12, but de Goede’s second try put Canada back on top.
Tries from Menin and Bauder in the 62nd and 64th minutes extended Canada’s lead to 31-17 before England’s Emma Sing scored late to make the final margin 31-22.
Looking Ahead for Canadian Rugby
With back-to-back wins over the world’s top-ranked team on home soil, Canada’s women’s rugby program has officially announced itself as a force to watch. For Ottawa sports fans, Friday night at TD Place was a reminder that some of the city’s most electric moments happen far beyond the hockey rink, and that this team, and this crowd, are only getting started.
