Summary

  • England win Women's Rugby World Cup for third time with superb performance at Twickenham - match report

  • Flanker Sadia Kabeya named player of the match as Red Roses extend winning run to 33 games

  • Superb try from full-back Ellie Kildunne followed by scores from forwards Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews give England 21-8 half-time lead

  • Abbie Ward and Matthews score tries as England hold off Canada in second half

  • Record crowd for women's rugby of 81,885 at Allianz Stadium

  1. 'This is the first time I can support an England Women’s team playing in England on the other side.'published at 14:05 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Euros winning Lioness Lucy Bronze talking ahead of the final, ‘It’s been exciting, I’ve got tickets for the final. I’ve been watching all the games on the TV and supporting the girls.

    'We (Lionesses) had a home euros, but I never got to experience it as a fan. You miss it as a player so this is the first time I can support an England Women’s team playing in England on the other side.

    ‘They need to enjoy the occasion, the run up and seeing the fans in the stadium there’s no other feeling like it.

    ‘The experience of the tournament, selling out the Stadium of light, travelling the country and already having that feeling of the fans. (The Final) shouldn't feel any different, just with a few more thousands.

    ‘My rugby skills, they’re okay. I don’t think I could make the Roses team but I can give it a go. I’m good at running and hitting people.

    I take good throw-ins so there are a few transferable skills there.'

    Lucy Bronze looks onImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 14:04 BST 27 September

    The chocolates are being shared in the BBC office. It definitely feels like the last day of school. A fantastic tournament is coming to an end.

  3. Postpublished at 14:01 BST 27 September

    Those supporters already inside Twickenham - which I reckon is about three-quarters full - are fully behind France. They want an epic finish.

    The atmosphere is electric.

  4. try

    Try: New Zealand 39-21 Francepublished at 66 mins

    Gabrielle Vernier

    An unlikely comeback? France get back-to-back tries as Gabrielle Vernier crashes over under the posts.

  5. try

    Try: New Zealand 39-14 Francepublished at 64 mins

    Lea Champon

    France finally have their second try of this third-place play-off. It comes on the counter and Lea Champon steps past two defenders before finishing on the stretch in the corner.

    Lea ChamponImage source, Getty Images
  6. Will there be a bank holiday if England win?published at 13:56 BST 27 September

    Ask Me Anything

    England face Canada in the Women's World Cup final at 16:00 BST on Saturday, but will there be a bank holiday if the Red Roses become champions?

    The UK government's department for Business and Trade say they recognise England's "extraordinary achievement" to reach their seventh successive Women's Rugby World Cup final.

    However, the government has no plans to create a one-off bank holiday as the "current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established".

    There were similar queries after the England women's football team won their second European Championship earlier this summer.

    The department for Business and Trade said they regularly receive requests for additional bank and public holidays, but there is a considerable cost to the economy.

    "The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2 billion," they said.

  7. try

    Try: New Zealand 39-7 Francepublished at 61 mins

    Braxton Sorensen-McGee

    Changing of the guard? Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is off, but Braxton Sorensen-McGee, the tournament's leading try-scorer remains on, and goes over on the right wing for her 11th try of the tournament.

  8. Woodman-Wickliffe replacedpublished at 13:53 BST 27 September

    New Zealand 34-7 France

    Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is replaced and gets an unbelievable reception.

    One of the best rugby players we've ever seen, the winger came out of retirement to play at this World Cup. She's in tears on the sideline as supporters continue to roar when her face comes up on the big screen.

    Was that her last ever appearance for the Black Ferns?

    Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New ZealandImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 13:50 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Alastair Telfer
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    Twickenham is starting to fill out nicely. Still loads outside the ground too.

    Twickenham
    Fans outside Twickenham
  10. Penalty: New Zealand 34-7 Francepublished at 55 mins

    Renee Holmes

    New Zealand continue to pump up the points. Renee Holmes blasts over a penalty from way out.

    Renee Holmes of New ZealandImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'They will learn from the lessons in the past and look to rewrite the future'published at 13:46 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Dame Katherine Grainger outside Allianz Stadium said, ‘I think they’ll be excited, it’ll be everything as an athlete you build towards. They’ve had such an incredible few years since the last final.

    'Of course there’ll be nerves, there’ll be excitement. They’ve filled out an elite stadium.

    'They know what to do, they just need to do it in front of a record breaking sold-out stadium.

    'The best athletes learn from the heartbreak, it becomes part of their lives.

    'The Red Roses know they’re up against the second best in the world, they will learn from the lessons in the past and look to rewrite the future.'

  12. Atmosphere is buildingpublished at 13:43 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    A picture of England fans with roses shirtsImage source, Getty Images
    A picture of England fans with england shirtsImage source, Getty Images
    A picture of knitted red rose payer and a ballImage source, Getty Images
    Crowds buildingImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 13:40 BST 27 September

    You'll be very happy to know that Braxton Sorensen-McGee is my captain today in the Rugby World Cup fantasy game.

    The final-day comeback is on in the family league!

  14. try

    Try: New Zealand 31-7 Francepublished at 46 mins

    Braxton Sorensen-McGee

    Try number 10 for New Zealand winger Braxton Sorensen-McGee.

    The teenage star was always going to have a say in this one. She receives the ball on the sideline and nobody can catch her from about 30 yards out.

    Media caption,

    Top scorer Sorensen-McGee touches down for 10th try of tournament

  15. What does the new Rugby World Cup trophy look like?published at 13:34 BST 27 September

    Ask Me Anything

    Women's Rugby World Cup trophyImage source, Getty Images

    The new trophy for the Women's Rugby World Cup is made of sterling silver and plated with 24-carat gold.

    It is said to represent modernity, achievement and passion at 38cm tall and weighing 4.5kg.

    The oval shape represents a rugby ball, while the handles are retained from the original trophy.

    Previous World Cup winners are engraved on its base and there is an etch of the world map on the trophy to symbolise the sport's reach across the globe.

    There will be 16 teams participating in 2025, including debutants Brazil.

    The trophy design was chosen by nine former world champions, including England's 2014 World Cup winning captain Katy Daley-Mclean.

    This is the third different trophy since the tournament began in 1991.

    The first trophy was won by the United States in 1991 and England in 1994, but went missing after the tournament.

    A second trophy was made for the 1998 World Cup.

    This trophy was presented at seven tournaments, including the last World Cup hosted and won by New Zealand in 2022.

  16. Half-time snapspublished at 13:31 BST 27 September

    HT: New Zealand v France

    New Zealand started Hacka in a huddleImage source, Getty Images
    France player with the ballImage source, Getty Images
    Bourdon scoring her tryImage source, Getty Images
    Demant scoring a tryImage source, Getty Images
    New Zealand player on the floor with France player on topImage source, Getty Images
  17. Record daypublished at 13:28 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Alastair Telfer
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    Fans walking

    Today's game at Twickenham is set to surpass the 58,498 who watched England beat France at the same stadium in the 2023 Women's Six Nations - the previous record for a women's XV-a-side match - and the 66,000 who watched the women's rugby sevens at Stade de France during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

    All 82,000 seats at Twickenham have been sold. It will be a landmark day for women's rugby.

    Fans walking
  18. Who is England's Welsh-born star?published at 13:22 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Erin Hughes
    BBC Sport

    In a piece for BBC Cymru, Welsh-speaker Meg Jones explains her decision to play for England over Wales.

    Jones, who was born in Cardiff but has played for England since 2015, said "because of the opportunities I had as an 18 year old. There was a lot more help over the bridge".

    Media caption,

    Watch Meg Jones interview with BBC Cymru (in Welsh)

    According to Jones there is "more help to be professional too" in England, compared to Wales.

    "To have this career, I had to make a decision to play for the Red Roses" she said.

    But even though it's the white shirt that Meg Jones represents on the biggest stage of all, she said that her roots are important to her.

    "I went to Ysgol Glantaf and being Welsh is important to me too.

    "I have a lot of passion, a lot of pride and a lot of fire in my belly."

    Jones is on the shortlist for the Best Rugby Player of the Year award - which will be revealed later today.

  19. 'Canada are winning today and making history'published at 13:18 BST 27 September

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Alastair Telfer
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    The family of prop DaLeaka Menin have flown in from Canada for the game.

    Menin's mother was in Manchester for the Wales game and her father went to the quarter-final win over Australia in Bristol.

    The air miles don't matter and they are back.

    "Our daughter told us 11 years ago that she wanted to be in a World Cup," her mother said.

    "She has made it and everyone at home is cheering for her.

    "Even if they don't win, they have already won the hearts and minds of everyone in Canada."

    Canada are 95% of the way towards their million-dollar fundraising goal entitled 'Mission: Win Rugby World Cup' - which was set up to help them compete with the world's best-funded teams.

    "It did everything and it is unfortunate they had to do that," she added.

    "It is a lot of money and they are one of the least funded teams in the world.

    "This proves how much they want it. They aren't being given it, they want it.

    "Canada are winning today and making history."

    Canada supporters
  20. try

    Try: New Zealand 26-7 Francepublished at 40 mins

    Renee Holmes

    And another try, New Zealand are on a roll as Jorja Miller sets up Laura Bayfield to finish on the counter-attack.

    That's half-time. The Black Ferns are in complete control.

    Laura Bayfield of New ZealandImage source, Getty Images