Canada and England face off in a mouth-watering RWC Final

After 30 matches, dozens of tries, plenty of heartbreak and even more elation, we have arrived at the final of Rugby World Cup 2025. England and Canada, the two best teams in the world, will face-off for the ultimate trophy at a sold out Allianz Stadium on Saturday at 4pm (5pm SAST).

Canada have, in the words of Julia Schell earlier in the tournament, been described as everything from dark horses, hopefuls and tournament contenders across their campaign. They finished top of Pool B after victories against Fiji, Wales and Scotland and emerged victorious from their quarter-final against the Wallaroos at Ashton Gate.

Despite their unbeaten run, it was the semi-final victory against six-time champions New Zealand that really made the world sit up and take note of the Canadian challenge. A true team effort under the Friday night lights brought about one of the most incredible results in Rugby World Cup history as the defending champions were dismantled at the penultimate hurdle. The Canadians are taking part in their second ever final after losing to England in the showpiece of Rugby World Cup 2014.

The Red Roses, meanwhile, came into this tournament with plenty of expectation as the hosts and two-time champions and they have lived up to that hype since the opening day. After comfortably beating Pool A rivals USA ahead of similar wins against Samoa and Australia, John Mitchell's side went into their quarter-final against Scotland full of confidence.

They beat their neighbours in Bristol before coming up against another Six Nations rival in France in the following week's semi-final. The French gave England their toughest task yet and were only two points down at half-time. However, the English juggernaut flexed its muscles to get over the line and book their place in a final that will see the highest attendance of a women's game in history.

The 'full house' signs have gone up for the 82 000 seater stadium in south west London, so there will be a rocking atmosphere as the best take on the best in the biggest game of women's rugby of all time!

Canada team

Canada's key player: You will no doubt see a theme to this but we can't look any further than Sophie de Goede. The second-row has been nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year on the back of an incredible Rugby World Cup 2025.

De Goede made 17 carries as well as 19 carries in her side's semi-final win but aside from doing the grunt work as a forward would, she's also kicking at goal for her side. As a result the 26-year-old is second in the standings for top points scorer in the competition, just one point behind New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee. De Goede could well be crucial in the set piece on Saturday as well as in front of the posts in what will be a tight final in London.

England team

England's key player: Here comes the theme, because one of two of De Goede's competition for Women’s 15s Player of the Year is England's inside-centre Meg Jones. The barnstorming midfielder has been the heartbeat of everything good about a Red Roses side going in search of a third Rugby World Cup title.

Her tackle on USA's Lotte Sharp in the opening game of the tournament set the tone for an incredible defensive display across the last few weeks, while her slick handling and strong carrying has kept opposition defences on the back foot throughout #RWC2025. If Jones fires on all cylinders on Saturday, England will be a tough outfit to control.

What Canada said

Captain Alex Tessier: "After every tour we go home and the post-match blues are tough but you don’t think about it, it just hits you afterwards. But we always still find a way to stay in contact with each other.

"Even though this group won’t be together next week, except we probably will be because we did plan a vacation with each other, we always send pictures of what we’re doing. It’s one of our strong suits that we manage to stay connected in whatever capacity. So yeah, post-tour blues will be hard but we have a big job to do first, then we’ll celebrate."

Fullback Julia Schell: "It’s hard to put into words. This is what we’ve been building for three years to do and the fact that we’re in this week and this game, it’s just unbelievable. It’s kind of an surreal feeling but one that we deserve."

What England said

Head coach John Mitchell: "I’m excited, just trying to look clam, relaxed and make sure that when I do speak that our message is really clear. Tuesday morning I had a nice black coffee in the car and was grateful for the opportunity but then I thought, 'this is where it really matters!'. And this is where I’ve got to find a solution and sell a solution to the girls to beat Canada. To me that’s the awesome part of the job.

"I think what's more important is how we play against Canada, what will work and where we can build pressure on them. What we’ve done remarkably well in this tournament is treat each team for what they offer and what they present. We’re never going to be perfect but to win this tournament you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be perfected."

England captain Zoe Aldcroft: "We are so excited to get out there. We have been working on this for three years and it is our time now, we really feel that."

World ranking permutations

• Canada will move top of the rankings for the first time if they are crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 champions.

• England’s advantage at top shrank to 5.90 rating points following Canada’s defeat of defending champions New Zealand in the semi-final.

• This means any margin of victory for Canada will take them to No 1 in the world and see them join England and New Zealand as the only teams to occupy that spot since the rankings were introduced in February 2016.

• Canada could open up a 5.44 cushion at the top if they beat the Red Roses by more than 15 points at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

• England cannot fall lower than second if they suffer a seventh defeat in a Women’s Rugby World Cup final.

• However, England will break through the 98-point barrier for the first time if they beat Canada by more than 15 points to win a third Women’s Rugby World Cup.

• With only a maximum of 0.33 rating points lost in defeat, Canada cannot fall from second place this weekend.

• France will replace New Zealand in third place if they win the bronze final, condemning the Black Ferns to a place outside the top three for the first time.

Canada v England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London - 5pm

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU), Clara Munarini (FIR)

Television Match Official: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Split Screen/FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Canada starting XV: 15 Julia Schell, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alex Tissier (capt), 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester; 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier; 8 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Karen Paquin, 6 Caroline Crossley; 5 Courtney O'Donnell, 4 Sophie de Goede; 3 Daleaka Menin, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 1 McKinley Hunt. Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia Demerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Laetitia Royer, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

England starting XV: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (capt); 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Morwenna Talling; 3 Maud Muir, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Hannah Botterman. Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.