Canada Ends England’s 41-Test Unbeaten Run — SkimNews
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- Canada, the world No. 2 side, beat top-ranked England 24-21 in Toronto, recovering from 21-12 down to end the world champions’ 41-match unbeaten Test run.
- England entered Toronto having won 70 of their previous 72 Tests; the world champions’ 39-match winning streak had ended in September’s 26-26 draw with Canada.
- New Zealand drew 19-19 with England at Twickenham and pushed for a late winner before England snatched victory, providing another close challenge to the Red Roses’ dominance.
- John Mitchell called the defeat “definitely” what England needed, while captain Meg Jones framed it as a test of character and collective accountability before the October 23 Ottawa match.
- Rugby Canada reached 95% of its C$1 million fundraising target, helping fund camps and warm-up Tests; even so, Canada were not fully professional, unlike England.
- Kevin Rouet signed a new Canada contract through 2030 as the team builds toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Why it matters: Canada’s victory hands the world No. 2 side a benchmark and a second straight result against England, turning the next meeting into a genuine test rather than an assumed rout. England’s 70 wins in 72 Tests show the gap has not vanished, but Mitchell and Jones now face an immediate accountability test in Ottawa.
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