Women's Rugby World Cup: Semi-Finals - Canada and England to meet in Final at Twickenham

The stage is set for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Final, with England and Canada set to meet this Saturday at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. A new world champion will be crowned at the home of English rugby, after Canada denied New Zealand a third consecutive crown following an emphatic semi-final.

The Black Ferns will not be adding a seventh world title to their trophy cabinet, as Sophie de Goede spear-headed the heroic Maple Leaves to their first Rugby World Cup Final since 2014. Canada have never won the pinnacle piece of silverware, with Kevin Rouet's side set to take on England, the team who beat Canada in the very same final 11 years ago.

The Red Roses are looking to end their run of Women's Rugby World Cup Final defeats, having lost the 2017 and 2022 showpiece matches to the Black Ferns. John Mitchell's side booked their spot at Twickenham after an impressive triumph over France, which extended England's personal winning streak to 32 matches in a row. Here's a full recap of the action from across the semi-finals, as the final four lit up Ashton Gate with a breath-taking weekend in Bristol.

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Canada produced one of the greatest upsets in Women’s Rugby World Cup history, dethroning six-time champions New Zealand with a stunning 34–19 victory at Ashton Gate to book their place in only a second-ever final. The Black Ferns had not lost a World Cup match in 11 years and entered as favourites, but Kevin Rouet’s side imposed themselves from the opening exchanges and never let go.

Justine Pelletier’s darting score set the tone before Asia Hogan-Rochester’s blistering pace carved open the defence. Florence Symonds added a third and captain Sophie de Goede finished a flowing move to cap a commanding first half in which Canada dominated both territory and discipline.

New Zealand struck back through Tanya Kalounivale on the half-hour, but trailed 24–7 at the break and faced an uphill task. Any hopes of a trademark comeback were dashed moments after the restart when Alex Tessier danced through to stretch the lead beyond three converted tries.

The Black Ferns rallied, with Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Braxton Sorensen-McGee crossing in the second half, yet Canada’s defensive intensity and breakdown superiority kept them at bay. De Goede, imperious at No. 8, added three conversions and a penalty to close out a famous win, while the 24,392-strong crowd roared the underdogs home.

For Rouet’s side, the result validates their “Mission: Win Rugby World Cup” campaign, a million-dollar fundraising effort to fuel their preparation. For the Black Ferns, it marks a painful end to their reign, three years after their dramatic final triumph over England at Eden Park.

Canada will now face either England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, brimming with belief that their first world title is within reach.

Canada
Tries: 5 (Pelletier, Hogan-Rochester, Symonds, De Goede, Tessier)
Cons: 3 (De Goede 3)
Pens: 1 (De Goede)

New Zealand
Tries: 3 (Kalounivale, Mikaele-Tu’u, Sorensen-McGee)
Cons: 2 (Holmes, Sorensen-McGee)

Ashton Gate, Bristol

England were made to dig deeper than at any point in this tournament, but Ellie Kildunne’s electric return inspired the Red Roses to a 35–17 victory over France and secured a seventh successive Women’s Rugby World Cup final appearance.

The Harlequins full-back, back from concussion, wasted no time stamping her mark. Within four minutes she was blazing down the touchline after neat interplay through Amy Cokayne, Alex Matthews, Abbie Ward and Hannah Botterman. Her quick feet left Nassira Konde and Kelly Arbey trailing.

France, however, refused to buckle. Roared on by a tearful rendition of La Marseillaise, they responded through Konde, who finished after a sharp break from Arbey to reduce the deficit to 7–5 at half-time. England’s own errors, spilled passes, wayward kicks and a disallowed try for Abby Dow, gave Les Bleues hope of an upset.

But John Mitchell’s side emerged sharper after the interval. A trademark rolling maul powered Cokayne over, before lock Abbie Ward muscled her way through to extend the advantage. Kildunne then struck again, pouncing on Marine Ménager’s miscontrol to weave through the defence and stretch the lead to 28–12 with 10 minutes to play.

France kept swinging. Konde grabbed her second to narrow the gap, but when Holly Aitchison’s kick sat up perfectly for Meg Jones to score, England had the final word. The 25,478 inside Ashton Gate revelled in Kildunne’s player-of-the-match display, but Mitchell will know sterner tests await. Canada, who dethroned New Zealand in sensational style a day earlier, lie in wait at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

For France, brave but error-prone, it marked a spirited end to a campaign marred by suspensions and injuries, yet they pushed England further than any side so far.

England
Tries: 5 (Kildunne (2), Cokayne, Ward, Jones)
Cons: 5 (Harrison 5)

France
Tries: 3 (Konde (2), Arbey)
Cons: 1 (Bourgeois)