Frenetic draw with Canada ends England's 39-game winning run

September 19, 2026 154news Acacia

England 26 - 26 Canada: Red Roses' 39-game winning run ends with thrilling draw - BBC Sport

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By Elizabeth Botcherby, BBC Sport journalist at Sandy Park, Exeter

Published 19 September 2026, 17:05 BST

Updated 3 minutes ago

WXV Global Series

England (19) 26

Tries:

Moloney-MacDonald 2
Botterman
Field

Conversions:

Harrison 3

Canada (19) 26

Tries:

Gibson
Menin 2

Conversions:

De Goede 3

England's remarkable 39-match winning run came to an end as they were held to a nail-biting 26-26 draw by Canada at Sandy Park. The Red Roses were unable to escape the clutches of a relentless Canada, who they beat in last year's World Cup final, with the two sides sharing four tries apiece in front of a raucous 14,573 crowd in Exeter.

Canada are the first team to avoid defeat against England since New Zealand beat them in the 2022 World Cup final, but John Mitchell's side are now unbeaten in 40 Tests.

Read more:

In a pulsating opening 25 minutes, England were twice required to come from behind...
...with tries from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Hannah Botterman cancelling out scores by Lizzie Gibson and DaLeaka Menin for Canada.
...Exeter winger Moloney-MacDonald had a try disallowed...
...but gave England the lead for the first time in the 32nd minute...
...Canada hit back on the stroke of half-time when Menin crashed over from close range.
...England weathered 10 minutes of sustained pressure at the beginning of the second half...
...before the two sides exchanged tries again...
...prop Bryony Field restored the lead for the hosts...
...Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps scored under the posts...
...England looked the most likely to win in a chaotic final 10 minutes...
...but were left to rue a turnover in front of the posts and a loose carry as Canada battled through for the draw.

The two sides will resume their rivalry with two Tests in Canada in October. Before then, England face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 26 September.

'We are really in a Test series, which is great for us'