Untouchable England outclasses Canada to win Women's Rugby World Cup in front of record crowd

LONDON (AP) — England finally has a Women's Rugby World Cup title to confirm its utter world domination after outclassing Canada 33-13 in front of a record crowd at Twickenham on Saturday.

The clearcut victory by five tries to two capped an astonishing World Cup cycle in which England won every match, 33 in a row, the greatest streak in international rugby.

The prospect of a home tournament topped by a home champion sold out Twickenham five weeks ago, and 81,885 spectators, the largest crowd in women's rugby history, were treated to a showcase of England's unstoppable power.

England was appearing in a seventh straight World Cup final but had won only one of the previous six, in 2014. The other title was in 1994.

Losing the 2022 final to New Zealand, the last time England tasted defeat, was a bitter blow for the most resourced, most deepest and strongest women's team in world rugby. It drove the Red Roses to get the formula right when the World Cup came home for the first time in 15 years.

“The past certainly dictates the now and the girls hung tough in the whole tournament and connected with the nation,” England coach John Mitchell said.

“I thought we were superb defensively in the tournament; our attack didn't need to be at its best but it was effective enough to get the job done. Canada are a good side but they hadn't come up against us and we were waiting."

Canada bossed everyone, including defending two-time champion New Zealand in the semifinals, en route to its first final in 11 years, validating its No. 2 ranking and unbeaten campaign this year.

But the best offloading team in the tournament with the fastest ruck speed couldn’t get its natural game going, crashing into England's defense. Canada didn't have a plan B.

“We smashed it out there today and I can’t thank the girls enough for putting their bodies on the line,” England captain Zoe Aldcroft said. "There was no doubt in our minds coming into this that we were going to do the job.”

England saved its best performance of the World Cup for last, setting the tone at the first scrum, shoving Canada backward. The English would destroy Canada's scrum and mauls.

Even goalkicking lock Sophie de Goede, at the heart of Canada's impressive performances just two months into her comeback from an ACL tear, was stymied. She got to smile after the final, though, after receiving the world player of the year award ahead of England's Megan Jones and New Zealand's Jorja Miller. De Goede's teammates threw her in the air.

As it did in every game, Canada scored first through glitter-faced right wing Alex Hogan-Rochester from a two-on-one.

The lead lasted only three minutes. Out of nothing, fullback Ellie Kildunne, last year's world player of the year, broke a tackle, stepped a couple more and scorched the cover to score behind the posts.

More Canada errors were turned into points by England.

There was a lineout drive try for hooker Amy Cokayne, who scored three similar tries in the 2022 final. An intercept on halfway by Tatyana Heard was the origin of a try for No. 8 Alex Matthews, playing in her fourth straight final.

Canada had to score next but on England's try-line the ball was poached by Aldcroft. Canada admitted it was struggling by kicking a penalty while 21-5 down.

The half finished with England prop Hannah Botterman greeting her second jackal penalty with a double-fisted roar in delight.

England started the second half with a try by lock Abbie Ward. When Zoe Harrison's conversion attempt hit the post, it was her first miss in 15 goalkicks going back to the pool stage.

While Botterman was in the sin-bin, Hogan-Rochester got her second try for Canada. When another sustained period of pressure died from a knock-on in front of the England posts, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney put his head in his hands.

England put the finishing touches on the biggest win in a final in 27 years when a spiral bomb spun back into its hands and Matthews scored her second try.

New Zealand bowed out in style after slamming six tries against France to win the bronze medal.

Rebounding from their semifinal defeat to Canada, their first loss in a knockout match in 34 years, the world champion Black Ferns won 42-26.

Winger Braxton Sorensen-McGee, the 18-year-old sensation at her first World Cup, scored her 10th and 11th tries, the second highest tally in World Cup history. Only retiring teammate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored more; 13 in 2017.

Renee Holmes was the player of the match for a 17-point haul, including five goalkicks from eight off the tee.

New Zealand led 39-7 after an hour then suddenly dropped off tackles and France scored three tries in 10 minutes to flanker Lea Champon and backs Gaby Vernier and Emilie Boulard.

France also scored the opening try by scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon Sansus from an inside pass by retiring co-captain Marine Menager.

But most of the next hour was New Zealand’s with often breathless play started by forwards Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u and Chryss Viliko.

Sylvia Brunt scored one try and set up two, and sevens superstar Jorja Miller, who missed the semifinal injured, sent in lock Laura Bayfield for 26-7 at halftime.

Then Sorensen-McGee turned it on. A dummy, left-foot step, and 30-meter glide to the try-line. Moments after Woodman-Wickliffe was replaced to huge acclaim, Sorensen-McGee dived in beside the right corner flag.

"There are only three teams that get to win a medal and to be one of those teams, no matter what color it is, we’re so grateful,” Brunt said.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Canada's Sophie de Goede celebrates being named player of the tournament after the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Zoe Aldcroft rasies the trophy after winning the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Zoe Aldcroft holds a trophy as she celebrates with her teammates after winning the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

England's Tatyana Heard is tackled by Canada's Alysha Corrigan during the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (Ben Whitley/PA via AP)

Canada's Florence Symonds, left, is stopped by England's Zoe Harrison during the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

England's Alex Matthews scores a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Ellie Kildunne runs to score a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

New Zealand's Renee Holmes, right, celebrates scoring their side's 3rd try of the game a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee scores a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

France's Pauline Bourdon Sansus gets away from New Zealand's Layla Sae, center right, during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (Ben Whitley/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee, left, scores a try past Gaby Vernier of France, center and Kelly Arbey of France, right, during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.

But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.

Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.

But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)