England women’s rugby team claim World Cup title in record Twickenham final
Red Roses defeat Canada 33-13 in front of a world-record crowd for a women’s match, with celebrations planned at Battersea Power Station Sunday
England’s women’s rugby team captured the World Cup title with a 33-13 victory over Canada in the final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, watched by a world-record crowd of 81,855.
Natasha Hunt, 36, a veteran of England’s last World Cup triumph in 2014 who was controversially left out of the 2022 squad, said the scale of the win and the crowd was unimaginable. “I don’t think any of us could have imagined it would have been like this,” Hunt said. “I am so proud of the girls. I hope this stays for women’s rugby.”
Abbie Ward, who crossed for England’s fifth and final try, framed the win as a milestone for the current team rather than a redemption for the previous tournament’s upset at Eden Park. “The last final loss, that was then. This is a new team. This is a new chapter of women’s rugby. It wasn’t about righting wrongs. This is our little moment. This team has been special. What we’ve done has been special. The support, the crowd, the friends and family involved... it’s been magical.”
Head coach John Mitchell, who faced a semi-final defeat with New Zealand’s men in 2003 and later worked with England’s men in 2019, offered a measured take as the final concluded. “Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t. Simon Middleton (Mitchell’s predecessor) has made some amazing foundations and we’ve brought into that. I’m very proud to be a part of this. I’m having a few beers tonight.”
Centre Meg Jones, who finished the tournament without the world player of the year award, highlighted resilience as a defining trait of the squad. “This game doesn’t care about adversity. It just cares about the repeated efforts you put in. It’s crazy. You only have to look at the Six Nations and how we’ve grown. It’s amazing how far we’ve come. Women’s sport is on a high. Let’s keep it there.”
The result underscored the rapid rise of England’s women’s program, built on foundations laid by previous coaching eras and strengthened by the ongoing growth of the women’s game across the Six Nations and beyond. England’s players are set to celebrate with fans at a free event at Battersea Power Station on Sunday from 14:00 BST.
The victory over Canada in London capped a breakthrough World Cup campaign for England, with a performance that showcased depth in both attack and defense and signaled a turning point for women’s rugby in the country. The team’s achievement comes amid broader momentum for women’s sport, following heightened attention to female athletes and increased participation at junior and senior levels across the sport.