England's Red Roses lose 2-0 series to Canada as unbeaten run ends in Ottawa

England's Red Roses were beaten 2-0 by Canada in their WXV Global Series fixtures in Ottawa, with a 31-22 defeat completing the series and ending a 39-match winning streak and a 41-match unbeaten run. The pair of losses are England's first consecutive defeats since 2016.

Before England's three-match series against Canada, few would have predicted this outcome; since 2016 England had won a second World Cup, reached the finals in 2017 and 2022, and lifted nine of the past 10 Six Nations titles. This recent run of results means this is only their third defeat in 74 matches. Over the past 13 months Canada have reversed a 33-13 World Cup final loss into a 31-22 victory in Ottawa, and the visitors’ form has altered perceptions around the international pecking order three years out from the 2029 World Cup.

For the second time in eight days England captain Meg Jones addressed a post-match media session and offered a defiant line. "It was a hell of a contest. We're not broken, we just need to grow," said Jones. "Do it together, use the lessons. We're playing the best teams, getting the best punches thrown at us. "I genuinely believe we've got the best players in the world. When we're firing, generally we're unstoppable. We don't dwell on the past, we're not anxious about the future, we're focused on the present."

England’s attacking execution was scrutinised in Ottawa: Sarah Bern was held up over the line and England conceded a turnover less than five metres out, and early in the second half they opted to kick a penalty to close the deficit rather than pursue other options. The article notes a contrast with last month's 26-26 draw in Exeter, where England declined a shot at goal to chase a last-gasp win. Defensively, England have conceded 18 tries across their past five matches in the WXV, compared with eight in six at the World Cup, and they have trailed at the break three times — a situation they had not experienced since 2020.

Match incidents further swung momentum. Last week ill-discipline repeatedly gifted Canada field position before a late handling error opened the door for the hosts' winning try. On Friday night Gabrielle Senft picked off a bouncing ball from a missed pass to set up Canada's second try; minutes later England were fortunate not to concede a similar score when a pass bisected Jess Breach and Jones, who pounced on the ball just before Lizzie Gibson got to it. "We were riding the waves, building phases, scrum, set piece, we were very strong. Sometimes it's the bounce of the ball or it doesn't swing your way. We couldn't execute when we got in their 22, that's a big one to reflect on for sure," said Jones.

The structure of women's rugby in Canada and the presence of Canadian players and coaches in England's domestic game were highlighted as factors in Canada's progression. The piece states Canada does not have a professional women's domestic league and that their players ran a crowd-funding campaign before the last World Cup to cover the cost of training camps. "Six Canadians started the PWR final for champions Saracens in July," and 25 Canadian players are contracted for the 2026-27 season, with 11 featuring in July's PWR final between Saracens and Trailfinders. Three Canadian coaches, including head coach Kevin Rouet at Saracens, are involved in English domestic rugby, and PWR squads must have a minimum of 13 England qualified players in a matchday squad.

England head coach John Mitchell warned about the potential long-term impact of overseas players in the Premiership Women's Rugby. "I think it's necessary to make sure that young English girls are getting enough PWR time," Mitchell said. "It's a critical pathway because Sevens is definitely gone. For players aged between 19 and 23, it's critical. "We're just going to make sure we don't erode our depth as a result of [overseas involvement]. It's not so much about now. It will be the future that will suffer if we're not smart in that area." Mitchell has also had to call on squad depth in 2026 after Abby Dow and Emily Scarratt retired following the World Cup, four players were absent through pregnancy, and several players including Hannah Botterman, Alex Matthews, and Amy Cokayne spent time sidelined by injury. He has handed out more than half a dozen debuts this year, with hooker Bryony Field particularly impressing during September's home internationals, played the likes of Abi Burton and Ellie Kildunne out of position, and brought Liz Crake back into the fold after several years away.

Three years before the 2029 World Cup, Canada’s victories have been positioned in the report as an early marker of their credentials and England face a period of reflection; Mitchell summed up the selection challenge by saying, "We're just going to make sure we don't erode our depth as a result of [overseas involvement]. It's not so much about now. It will be the future that will suffer if we're not smart in that area."