De Goede haunted by final as Canada face England again
Sophie de Goede still cannot sleep. Four or five nights a week, Canada's captain lies awake thinking about the World Cup final.
It is easy to understand why. England beat Canada 33-13 in the final on 27 September 2025 at Allianz Stadium in London, in front of the biggest ever crowd for a women's international, to claim their third world title BBC Sport. Canada, ranked third in the world, are now preparing to face the Red Roses again at Sandy Park in Exeter.
De Goede was at the heart of that final. The lock — a second-row forward who powers the scrum and jumps in the lineout — had fought back from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury to lead her country. She kicked a penalty, saw a conversion attempt hit the upright and made a match-high 17 carries, according to Rugby Canada Rugby Canada. Canada even led 5-0 early. Then England pulled away.
That defeat followed a famous Canadian high. Canada had beaten defending champions New Zealand to reach the final, with de Goede scoring from 20 metres under the posts in the semi-final and finishing that run as her team's points leader with 58 points. Head coach Kevin Rouet has now named her back in the starting fifteen at lock to captain the side against England's Red Roses.
The rematch starts a busy stretch. After hosting Canada, John Mitchell's England are scheduled to play New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, then travel for two more Tests against Canada in Toronto and Ottawa BBC Sport.
The teams know each other well. There are 25 Canadian players in England's domestic PWR league, the Premiership Women's Rugby competition. Canada's staff reflects that link too, with Rouet and Alex Austerberry both coaching Saracens Women alongside Nathan Smith from Loughborough Lightning.
England Rugby's head of women's performance, Charlie Hayter, has confirmed the rule requiring an average of 13 English Qualified Players across PWR matchday squads will remain. From the 2027-28 season, only players injured while on international duty for one of England's representative teams will be eligible for club injury credit. If an English Qualified Player is captured by another union, they will only keep that status until the end of that season.
For fans, this means the next chapter is immediate. No long wait for revenge or reassurance. Just the same two teams, many familiar faces, and a captain still replaying September in her head.
