BUCKLE UP, COWBOYS! Rugby World Cup Final
As Red Roses captain Zoe Aldcroft says: It’s our turn now. Or as England star and World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne says: buckle up, cowboys, this is the moment!
And right here, right now, Izzy Gilligan preps us for the big one, the Rugby World Cup Final between England and Canada at a sold-out Twickenham…
A roaring home crowd will witness the Red Roses chase a third world crown against a fearless Canadian side in a Women’s Rugby World Cup final set to define a new era for the sport.
After 30 matches, record-breaking crowds and no shortage of drama, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 comes down to a single clash: England against Canada at a sold-out Twickenham on Saturday. A world-record 82,000 fans will witness the final, the biggest stage women’s rugby has ever seen.
Victory on home soil would mark a historic moment not just for the Red Roses, but for women’s rugby in England as a whole. Following in the footsteps of their football-playing friends, who won the Euros at their home tournament in 2022 and changed their game forever, this is not a chance to miss.
It’s the chance for the team to leave a lasting legacy on women’s rugby in this country, and kickstart a transformative period in the sport.
For England, it is familiar territory. The Red Roses have reached six consecutive World Cup finals but won only one, in France in 2014, against Canada. Since their heart-breaking defeat to New Zealand three years ago, John Mitchell’s side have strung together a 32-match unbeaten run. Ranked number one in the world and backed by the home crowd, they are favourites to claim a third world crown.
Mitchell is keen to keep his team grounded, he said: “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 theyoffer 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.”
Canada arrive in London brimming with belief after dismantling defending champions New Zealand 34-19 in the semi-final.
Captain Alex Tessier is clear on their intent, she said: “We will give everything we have got because we believe we can go all of the way. It’s not done yet but that is the goal.”
Most-capped Canadian rugby player of all time Tyson Beukeboom echoed Tessier’s sentiment, she said: “They are an incredibly difficult team to play against, they have an aura about them that has been almost untouched in the last 10 years. Our goal is to burst it.”
Much of Canada’s success has been driven by the extraordinary Sophie de Goede, who not only dominates the second row, but also kicks goals.
Her display against the Black Ferns, 19 carries, a try, and a tireless work rate, underlined her status as one of the game’s most complete players.
Alongside Florence Symonds and Alysha Corrigan, she forms the heart of a backline that thrives on pace and aggression.
England, meanwhile, boast star power in every area. Meg Jones has been nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year, while full-back Ellie Kildunne has solidified her place as face of the tournament after her brace of tries against France.
Kildunne took to Instagram to share a message ahead of the final, she said: “A World Cup final. Trust the process, believe in us and buckle up cowboys. This is the moment.”
Expect a fascinating battle of styles. England’s juggernaut pack and devastating squad depth against Canada’s flair and pacy starting backs.
The occasion will bring nerves, but with both teams producing their best performances in the semi-finals, everything points towards a contest worthy of the historic stage.
Whatever the outcome, the sight of 82,000 fans packing Twickenham to watch a Women’s Rugby World Cup final will stand as a landmark moment, proof of how far the game has come, and a powerful statement about where it is heading.
