Brilliant England win Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

From their unstoppable pack, led by two-time try scorer Alex Matthews, to a backline lit up by Ellie Kildunne, the Red Roses turned it on when it really mattered to lift the Women’s Rugby World Cup Trophy (33-13) for the third time in history – and the first since 2014.

While England started the final on the back of a record 32-match unbeaten run, all 81 885 packed into Allianz Stadium - a world record for a women’s rugby match - were well aware that the women-in-white lost the RWC 2021 Final on the back of a similar streak. And the Canadians did their utmost to seize on those nerves, striking first, thanks to lively winger Asia Hogan-Rochester.

But when England need something up stepped Kildunne. The reigning World Player of the Year has been imperious throughout her home World Cup but this was something else. There was seemingly nothing on when the fullback took the ball just inside the Canada half. She saw it differently, stepping inside two defenders before carving through the infield to touch down.

The noise deafening, England’s pack took over. First it was the rolling maul, a weapon Canada – like the rest of the world – knew all about but simply had no answer to. A try for hooker Amy Cockayne was swiftly followed by one for Matthews, slipped in by a delightful off-load from scrumhalf Natasha Hunt.

Somehow Canada held out until half-time, England’s 21-8 lead barely reflecting their dominance.

But the break did not stop the white wave, with Abbie Ward powering over five minutes into the second-half, after more great work from her fellow forwards.

Outstanding through the tournament, Canada did hit back. Again it was Hogan-Rochester touching down with England down to 14 players, after a yellow card for prop Hannah Botterman.

But after weathering a strong 10 minutes for the world No 2 ranked side, who ran England close in last season WXV 1 final, England pulled away once more. Matthews punching through for her second try with 11 minutes left.

Immense either side of the ball, openside flanker Sadia Kabeya made a crunching 20 tackles, as well as providing the link her sparkling backs. Aware of what it feels like to lose a RWC final, the 23-year-old was overjoyed to be named a world champion.

"It sounds amazing, it's a pinch-me moment but it's been years and years in the making and I'm so pleased we could pull it off," the Player of the Match said. "Canada are a great side. We worked them really hard and we did all the right things today and that showed in the game.

"It's amazing. I want to say thank you to everyone who came out today. You are our 16th man on the pitch. We are just so grateful.

"All I can say is big up South London!"

England captain Zoe Aldcroft said: "We smashed it out there today and I can't thank the girls enough for putting their bodies on the line. There are 82 000 people here. I can't thank them enough and everyone watching at home.

"I knew those girls could put a performance out like that. There was no doubt in our minds coming into this that we were going to do the job.

"We talked about reinventing women's rugby. We want to inspire so many young girls to pick up a rugby ball or a football and do anything they want in the world. If you dream big enough you can get it, and we dreamed big enough today.

"Part of our journey was inspiring those young girls. We talked about reinventing women's rugby. We want to inspire so many young girls to pick up a rugby ball or a football and do anything they want in the world. If you dream big enough you can get it, and we dreamed big enough today."

John Mitchell, England's head coach stated: "It's been three years in the making. The past certainly dictates the now and the girls hung tough in the whole tournament and connected with the nation. I thought we were superb defensively in the tournament; our attack didn't need to be at its best but it was effective enough to get the job done.

"We had massive respect for Canada. They are very good at picking and going but I thought we did a fantastic job in our plans around that area. They lost a lot of momentum today. They are a good side, but they hadn't come up against us and we were waiting.

"It's not really so much about me. I'm the old bugger that's been going for 30 years. You get some and you don't get some. I am so pleased that these girls have realised their potential. This has been a very good team for a long time, but I think they deserve to be termed a great side today. They're a phenomenal group."

Abbie Ward said: "As soon as the whistle went I just burst into tears. It has truly been the most special day. A home crowd, a sold-out Twickenham. The support has unbelievable. You could feel it, it has been electric. It has been amazing.

"This is a new chapter of women's rugby. It wasn't about righting wrongs, it was about what this team could do. Today was such a phenomenal show of rugby from both sides. This is our little moment today and it didn't matter what had happened in the past. This team has been special. This crowd, the support, our friends, families, background staff, it has been absolutely magical.

"She's on the pitch-side now and she's been waving like mad and I can't wait to go and pick her up and get her on the pitch. I always said when I came back to rugby I wanted to make sure everything I was doing was worth it. I was putting everything in I could and when you get occasions like today it makes it worth it. To be able to share that with our families, it's one of those 'pinch-me' moments," she said about being away from her daughter.

Natasha Hunt n what it means to her to win the Rugby World Cup, having also won it in 2014: "Absolutely everything. This is unimaginable - the day, the whole tournament. To walk out in front of nearly 82 000 and perform like that, I could not be prouder of the girls. I am so overwhelmed, I am absolutely buzzing.

"He's (Mitchell) kept it simple. He's been very honest, sometimes brutally so with his feedback but I respect that. I think he's really fair in what he says. He's got his week bang on. This week has always been about the process, about the game, not about the emotion because that would take care of itself and it really took care of itself today. We played on the 16th member - the crowd - and it was just amazing.

"It is huge. I don't think any of us could have imagined it would ever be like this and that is testament to everyone behind the scenes and also everyone for showing up and hopefully they are here to stay."

Sarah Hunter, defence coach added: "(This means) Everything. It's a moment in time for the women's game. For our girls to experience it as world champions in front of an amazing crowd, is just incredible.

"I am immensely proud of them. We've spoken all tournament that it would come down at times to defence. Everyone spoke about Canada's threat, Canada's speed of ball, would they come round the edges. We just took the process and they (the players) did it and I couldn't have asked any more of them. We denied them access to all points points that they've had all tournament. They will be proud of what they've done today."

Kildunne talked about whether she felt pressure: "No. We thrive on this. We have big players who love the pressure. People care, people want to watch us play. We need more people to keep on coming to see us. We want to see the cowboy hats. We are going to keep on performing, we are going to keep on entertaining, that's what we are here for.

Meg Jones was "So proud. We went through exactly what we needed to go through to be strong enough today We faced adversity. I am so proud of the girls, proud of the girls and proud of this one as well (points to Kildunne)".

"It's crazy. You only have to look at the Six Nations and how we grew. It is amazing how far this game has come. Hopefully we can keep that momentum. Women's sport is on a high so let's keep it there."

Sarah Bern said: "It hasn't sunk in. We've never played in a stadium like this. It has been electric. I am really happy for the girls.

"We recognised we hadn't put in a full 80-minute performance. It was about believing in ourselves, in our game plan and executing it for 80 minutes and today the girls did amazingly. This is a massive squad effort."

Morwenna Talling said the match way "Insane. It was a hard-fought battle. We knew Canada were going to bring it - they definitely did. We stuck to our game plan and put on a show".

Canadian captain Alex Tessier added: "Good on them, I think they pressured us – at set-pieces, especially at scrum. We didn't quite know what to do at times. Of course, it's harder when the scrum doesn't go your way, it makes it a little bit difficult.

"We started the game a bit flat and couldn't quite find out rhythm, then the connection wasn't there at times. We didn't panic but we didn't manage to play our game and I think that cost us the game in the long run."