EXETER, England (AP) — England's record 39-match winning streak in women's rugby was stopped by Canada after a thrilling 26-26 draw in WXV on Saturday.
Their first match since England won the final of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup a year ago was far more compelling. The score was knotted at 5, 12, 19 at halftime, and 26 with a quarter to go at overcast Sandy Park.
England spent most of the last quarter on attack and was held up over the tryline. Canada brought more pressure on itself with errors but held out the Red Roses, who failed to win a test for the first time since the final of the 2022 World Cup against New Zealand but extended their unbeaten streak to 40 matches.
Outstanding support play and pick and goes marked most of the eight tries, split evenly, as England winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Canada prop DaLeaka Menin picked up first-half doubles.
But defense dominated after halftime. A converted try from a maul finished by first-time starting hooker Bryony Field put England back in front and four minutes later Canada scrumhalf Olivia Apps finished a break by lock Sophie de Goede to tie the score again. At fulltime, neither team looked happy.
“It was amazing test match rugby, which is what we want. We want a battle,” England captain Megan Jones told the BBC.
The teams will meet twice more in Canada, on Oct. 16 in Toronto and Oct. 23 in Ottawa.
England will host New Zealand next weekend at Twickenham.
The Black Ferns warmed up by routing Scotland 66-14 with 10 tries in Edinburgh.
See AP’s full rugby coverage here
Canada's Olivia Apps in action during the WXV Global Series match between England and Canada in Exeter, England, Saturday Sept. 19, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
England's Sadia Kabeya is tackled by Canada's Taylor Perry during the WXV Global Series match between England and Canada in Exeter, England, Saturday Sept. 19, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
England's Ellie Kildunne is tackled by Canada's Rachel Smith during the WXV Global Series match between England and Canada in Exeter, England, Saturday Sept. 19, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Ben Shelton missed the chance put the United States into the the Davis Cup Final 8 on Saturday as he fell to a second straight singles loss against the Czech Republic.
The U.S. Open finalist lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to Jakub Mensik in Prague to level the best-of-five series at 2-2, a day after he was beaten by Jiri Lehecka.
Lehecka faced Learner Tien later Saturday in the deciding singles.
American pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek made it 2-1 after winning their doubles match over Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Riki 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8).
Austria made the Final 8 after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build an insurmountable 3-1 advantage. Austria also won the doubles match on the outdoor clay in Vienna, a day after it split the opening single matches with Belgium.
Toby Samuel and Wimbledon semifinalist Arthur Fery won their singles matches to put Britain 2-0 up at home to Ecuador.
Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3), before Dino Prizmic leveled the series with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Daniel Altmaier.
It was Zverev’s first match since winning the U.S. Open final last weekend against American Ben Shelton. That came after the 29-year-old Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.
The second-ranked Zverev, who had 15 aces, dominated on the indoor hardcourt in Halle, Germany, with Dodig having no break-point chances.
Doubles and reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday in the best-of-five match series. The winning team advances to the Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November.
South Korea earlier became the first Asian nation to reach the Final 8 after clinching its match against India 3-1.
The South Koreans came from a set down in both singles matches on Friday to lead 2-0.
It lost the opening doubles Saturday but Soonwoo Kwan beat Sumit Nagal 6-1, 6-2 in the first reverse singles.
The Final 8 format was introduced in 2022.
See AP’s full tennis coverage here
United States' Ben Shelton returns the ball to Czechia's Jakub Mensik during the Davis Cup second round qualifier match between the Czech Republic and the United States, in Prague, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Czechia's Jakub Mensik celebrates after defeating United States' Ben Shelton during the Davis Cup second round qualifier match between the Czech Republic and the United States, in Prague, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek celebrate with teammates after defeating Czechia's Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl during the Davis Cup second round qualifier match between the Czech Republic and the United States, in Prague, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Christian Harrison, front, and Austin Krajicek celebrate after defeating Czechia's Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl during the Davis Cup second round qualifier match between the Czech Republic and the United States, in Prague, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Christian Harrison, right, and Austin Krajicek celebrate after winning a point against Czechia's Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl during the Davis Cup second round qualifier match between the Czech Republic and the United States, in Prague, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
India's N Sriram Balaji, bottom, returns the ball as his teammate Dhakshineswar Suresh watches during a double match of a Davis Cup World second-round qualifier against South Korea's Nam Jisung and Park Uisung in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
India's N Sriram Balaji, rear, returns the ball as his teammate Dhakshineswar Suresh watches during a double match of a Davis Cup World second-round qualifier against South Korea's Nam Jisung and Park Uisung in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
India's Dhakshineswar Suresh, right, returns the ball as his teammate N Sriram Balaji watches during a double match of a Davis Cup World second-round qualifier against South Korea's Nam Jisung and Park Uisung in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
India's Dhakshineswar Suresh, front, returns the ball as his teammate N Sriram Balaji watches during a double match of a Davis Cup World second-round qualifier against South Korea's Nam Jisung and Park Uisung in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
