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. try

    Try: New Zealand 21-7 Francepublished at 37 mins

    Renee Holmes

    Another try right before the break. It's brilliant give-and-go passing between Sylvia Brunt and Renee Holmes which ends with Holmes finishing unopposed.

    Sylvia Brunt of New ZealandImage source, Getty Images
  2. try

    Try: New Zealand 14-7 Francepublished at 32 mins

    Sylvia Brunt

    New Zealand take the lead for the first time in the third-place play-off!

    It's a clutch move from a few yards out as Sylvia Brunt takes over the umpteenth phase and bulldozes her way through under the posts.

  3. All in the prep!published at 13:02 BST

    Vicky Carter
    BBC Newsbeat

    hair bradingImage source, Annis Waugh

    I've spoken to Annis Waugh who is the founder of Braid Maidens and both her and her team braid the Red Roses before they compete.

    Annis and her team have been working with the Red Roses since 2022 and they’re braiding the team for the World Cup Final today. They "go down seven hours before kick-off, with three braiders there for three hours for whoever wants their braids done in the team".

    Annis says having braided hair means the players has "one less thing to think about".

    She says “it is exciting to see the team in camp” and that they feel “really privileged” to be in camp with the players.

    Hair bradingImage source, Annis Waugh
  4. Stars rally behind Englandpublished at 12:58 BST

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Stars rally behind EnglandImage source, BBC Sport
  5. Cramp cocktails and apps - how rugby tracks 'fifth vital sign'published at 12:54 BST

    Grace Wheeler
    BBC Sport

    You scan the drinks menu at your local bar, you're very unlikely to see 'Sylvia's Cramp Cocktail'.

    But if you're Erica Jarrell-Searcy from the USA women's rugby team and you're on your period, you might want to order one.

    This is among the ways teams have been trying to ensure their players are able to perform at the highest level throughout their menstrual cycle.

    As the Women's Rugby World Cup takes place over five weeks, the female athletes that reach the final will have competed while managing one or two menstrual cycles.

    From encouraging players to fill out daily questionnaires to logging their cycles in an app, BBC Sport looks at how rugby has been tracking periods and why?

    Read more here.

    A graphic of the women's menstrual cycleImage source, BBC Sport
  6. try

    Try: New Zealand 7-7 Francepublished at 14 mins

    Ruahei Demant

    The world champions weren't behind for long. From an attacking line-out Ruahei Demant nabs the ball and crashes over under the posts.

    Ruahei Demant of New ZealandImage source, Getty Images
  7. Postpublished at 12:48 BST

    Thanks for getting in touch Kat!

    If the noise in this New Zealand-France match is anything to go by, it's going to be electric by the time the England and Canada teams walk out.

  8. try

    Try: New Zealand 0-7 Francepublished at 11 mins

    Pauline Bourdon Sansus

    France have got the first points of the third-placed play-off match!

    The Europeans have started much brighter and are rewarded when a slick offload helps Pauline Bourdon Sansus break the line, find an angle, and cross in the corner.

    Pauline Bourdon SansusImage source, Getty Images
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:44 BST

    #bbcrugby, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    At Twickenham. Brilliant to see so many fans here already. Was a pain getting from Waterloo to the stadium but we’re here now and ready for a brilliant afternoon. Will be very emotional when England come out to a full Twickers!

    Kat at twickenham!

    Kat at twickenham!Image source, Kat
  10. An all-female grounds teampublished at 12:41 BST

    I must say, the pitch at Twickenham is looking absolutely immaculate.

    It's an all-female grounds team who have been in charge.

    Among the history-makers is Cheryl Hill, who has spent 35 seasons helping to keep Leicester Tigers' Welford Road pitch match-ready.

    "I couldn't believe it when I had the email inviting me down, and I can't believe I'm going to the biggest stage in rugby," she told the BBC earlier this week.

    TwickenhamImage source, Getty Images
  11. Kick-offpublished at 12:36 BST

    New Zealand 0-0 France

    Peeep. Match one is under way.

    I'd say Twickenham is about half full and only getting more crowded.

    New Zealand's Haka was particularly impressive just before kick-off. They started in a circle and then quickly choregraphed into a formidable line, staring down the French.

    Players from New Zealand perform the HakaImage source, Getty Images
  12. France's last line-uppublished at 12:31 BST

    New Zealand v France (12:30 BST)

    Joanna Grise with the team news graphicImage source, Getty Images
  13. New Zealand's last line-uppublished at 12:29 BST

    New Zealand v France (12:30 BST)

    New Zealand's last line-upImage source, BBC Sport
  14. Postpublished at 12:28 BST

    We also have an early game to cover, the third-placed play-off no less.

    Here are the teams...

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:26 BST

    WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    We want you to be front and centre of our World Cup build-up!

    Are you heading to the ground? Or will you be watching from behind the sofa?

    Let us know, and also attach your pictures.

  16. Busy, busy, busypublished at 12:21 BST

    Canada v England (16:00 BST)

    Alastair Telfer
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    This was the train station at Twickenham at 12:00 BST.

    The entire platform was packed with England supporters and it was a squeeze.

    Two games of rugby at the same venue has got people moving early.

    England supporters
  17. Watch live!published at 12:18 BST

    BBC Sport

    Our video coverage has just got going and you can watch it by pressing the play icon at the top of this page and by going on BBC iPlayer.

    Bring on the build-up!

  18. Hello!published at 12:15 BST

    History beckons!

    Today could be the day England win their first World Cup since 2014.

    Or, Canada could become world champions for the very first time.

    Twickenham is sold-out. This is a huge moment for women's rugby. Welcome to our build-up of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final.