Canada hold England to 26-26 draw at Sandy Park, ending 39-match run

England were held to a 26-26 draw by Canada in a Test at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, ending England's 39-match winning run.

Prior to Saturday's game, England had won every match they had played since their 2022 World Cup final loss to New Zealand. The draw made Canada the first team to avoid defeat against England since New Zealand beat them in the 2022 World Cup final, and John Mitchell's side are now unbeaten in 40 Tests. The result also ended England's 100% home record against Canada, having won each of their previous 13 home meetings, in front of a crowd of 14,573.

The sides finished level after exchanging four tries apiece. Tries: Moloney-MacDonald 2, Botterman, Field; Cons: Harrison 3. Canada tries: Gibson, Menin 2; Cons: De Goede 3.

The opening 25 minutes saw England twice come from behind, with Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Hannah Botterman cancelling out scores by Lizzie Gibson and DaLeaka Menin. Moloney-MacDonald had an earlier effort disallowed before she put England ahead in the 32nd minute, finishing from a surging run by Sadia Kabeya for her second. Canada had a brilliant solo effort from Asia Hogan-Rochester ruled out for a forward pass and struck back on the stroke of half-time when Menin crashed over from close range.

England endured 10 minutes of sustained pressure at the start of the second half before the teams traded further scores. Prop Bryony Field restored the hosts' lead before Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps went under the posts following a run down the left from Sophie de Goede. In a chaotic final 10 minutes England were held up over the line, lost a turnover in front of the posts and suffered a loose carry as Canada battled through for the draw.

England team: Kildunne; Breach, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Harrison, L Packer; Botterman, Field, Muir, Talling, Ives Campion, Burton, Kabeya, Matthews. Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Bern, Burns, Feaunati, M Packer, Robinson, Aitchison.

Canada team: Gallagher; Hogan-Rochester, Symonds, Tessier, Williams; Perry, Apps; Nelson, Idowu, Menin, De Goede (capt), Royer, Smith, Omokhuale, Gibson. Replacements: Boag, McDonald, Rempel, Forteza, Buisa, Senft, Pelletier, Bauder.

Assistant referees were Aurelie Groizeleau (France) and Alexandra Ferre (France).