From underdog to torchbearer, Canada’s women’s rugby team has quietly rewritten history. This weekend, they will step onto the field for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, their first time ever reaching this milestone, and for a moment, the global spotlight shines firmly on them.
A Mission Built by Belief (and Crowdfunding)
To call this journey improbable would be an understatement. Canada entered the 2025 campaign with a conspicuous funding gap. To make their push genuine, Rugby Canada launched the “Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025” campaign in March, targeting CAD 1 million to give the women’s squad the resources, training, and preparation they deserved.
The response was emphatic. Through donor support, corporate backing, and grassroots momentum, they closed the gap, and gave these athletes a fighting chance. Rugby Canada itself upped the ante, investing historic sums into its women’s high performance programs, a clear statement that this team was not just sent to participate, but to contend.
But funding is only the beginning. What followed was months of grit, camaraderie, and strategic growth, the building blocks for a team on a mission.
Road to the Final: Beating Giants, Defying Expectations
Canada’s route to the final has not been easy. In the semifinal, they faced the reigning champions, the New Zealand Black Ferns, and delivered a statement win: 34–19. Not just a win, but the largest margin of victory ever recorded over New Zealand in a Women’s Rugby World Cup. That result didn’t just send Canada through; it shook expectations worldwide.
Earlier in the tournament, the Canadian squad showed consistency: smart game plans, disciplined defence, and depth across key positions. Their roster for the final against England remains unchanged from that semifinal, a testament to confidence in the chemistry and form of this group.
Now, they face England in London on September 27 at Allianz Stadium, with a crowd of 82,000 spectators expected, the largest audience in women’s rugby history.
Why This Matters | For Canada and for Women’s Rugby
This occasion isn’t only monumental for Canada; it’s monumental for global women’s rugby. When a program that has historically operated at a fraction of the budget of top-tier rivals climbs into a World Cup final, it sends a message: with belief, investment, and strategic leadership, new narratives can emerge.
Canada’s captain, Alex Tessier, captured the mood:
“It means everything to know the country is behind us … It’s not just about us winning a trophy, it’s about showing our passion and promoting what investing in Canadian rugby can achieve to inspire the next generation.”
In many ways, this is more than a final, it’s a proving ground. If Canada were to win, it would be the country’s first ever Rugby World Cup title in women’s rugby. Even if they fall just short, the journey itself will leave a legacy: inspiring young athletes, galvanising investment in women’s sport, and rewriting the expectations of what Canadian rugby can achieve on the world stage.
Make sure your subheadings carry those terms, include links to the Rugby Canada announcement pages, and quote headlines like “Mission, Near Complete” to strengthen credibility and internal linking.
A Closing Reflection Before the Final
As Canada prepares to walk onto that pitch, they carry more than national colours, they carry collective dreams, the weight of belief, and the proof that underdog stories still matter. Whether they lift the trophy or not, they’ve already broadened the possibilities for what women’s sport can look like in Canada and beyond.
Once Saturday comes, we’ll see how the final chapter plays out. But no matter the outcome, this run has already earned its place in the annals of rugby, a testament to persistence, community driven support, and the fierce heart of a team that dared to believe.