It's over: Canada ends England's unbeaten streak in women's rugby with a 24-21 win

TORONTO (AP) — A month after Canada halted England's 39-match winning streak in women's rugby, it also ended its 40-match unbeaten streak Friday.

The Canadians came back from a 14-5 halftime deficit and took the lead when center Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored a try with three minutes remaining to give the home side a 24-21 win.

The match was played before 18,621 spectators at BMO Field in Toronto, which organizers said was a North American record for a stand-alone women’s match.

At Exeter, England on Sept. 19, Canada ended England’s record 39-match winning streak with a 26-26 draw, part of the WXV Global Series. It was their first match against each other since England won the final of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup a year ago.

England hadn’t lost since dropping a 34-31 decision to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final nearly four years ago. After its draw with Canada, England beat New Zealand in another WXV match.

Fullback Savannah Bauder scored an opening try for Canada in the 17th minute Friday after a series of passes. But captain Sophie de Goede missed the conversion attempt, and until Canada's late try, that proved to be the difference in the match.

England took the lead in the 32nd minute with a converted try by Maddie Feaunati, and flyhalf Zoe Harrison scored a second try five minutes later to leave England with its 14-5 lead at halftime.

Canada and England will play again next Friday in Ottawa.

See AP’s full rugby coverage here

Canada's Sophie de Goede, top, is lifted up by teammates during the first half of a women's rugby match against England in Toronto, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

England's Zoe Harrison, left, is tackled by Canada's Florence Symonds (13) during the first half of a Canadian Football League game in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's DaLeaka Menin, second from right, is tackled by England's Hannah Botterman, right, during the first half of a women's rugby match in Toronto, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

England's Zoe Harrison (10) moves to tackle Canada's Alysha Corrigan,left, who runs with the ball during the first half of a women's rugby match in Toronto, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada players celebrate after their win over England in a women's rugby match in Toronto, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a final appeal to voters considering a path toward independence in his home province of Alberta on Friday, warning that a referendum is a dangerous gamble at a time of growing threats to Canada’s sovereignty.

With U.S. President Donald Trump waging a trade war and threatening to make Canada the 51st state, Carney warned that the referendum comes at the “worst possible time” and urged Albertans not to take the outcome for granted.

“Don’t let anyone tell you this is already decided. Turnout will determine the outcome,” Carney told a pro-Canada rally in Edmonton, where he grew up.

“This is not a game. This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities for Albertans and Canadians,” he said.

Monday’s vote is not a direct referendum on independence. Alberta, home to most of Canada’s proven oil reserves — the fourth largest in the world — will decide whether to remain a province or instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation.

Carney’s closing appeal came after two days of campaigning against separation in the province. Earlier Friday, the Liberal prime minister joined Alberta’s conservative premier Danielle Smith in a show of unity against independence.

Smith praised Carney for improving relations with a province that frequently clashed with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, over his carbon tax and other energy policies.

“I think what we can agree on is that we have had some real change in the last 18 months,” Smith said alongside Carney in Red Deer, Alberta.

Smith noted that Carney grew up in Alberta and remains an Edmonton Oilers fan.

“He can’t be all bad, right?” she joked.

“Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us. Never. Never,” Carney warned Friday in Edmonton, repeating a warning he made a day earlier in Calgary.

At Thursday’s Calgary rally, the crowd erupted in its loudest applause when Carney spoke about reducing Canada’s economic dependence on the United States.

Carney acknowledged Alberta’s longstanding resentment of federal energy policies.

“Growing up, I remember how Ottawa made Albertans feel like our resources weren’t our own,” he said.

But he also emphasized his deep ties to the province.

“Alberta is my home. I grew up here. This city, this province, this country have given me everything: my family, my education, my values,” he said.

Outside the Edmonton rally venue Friday, Alberta independence supporters waved flags and held a sign reading “Say no to Carney’s new world order.”

Smith called the referendum despite opposing independence herself. She recently cited a poll showing 22% of Albertans support separation, a figure she said was still too high.

Smith also faces pressure from separatists within her governing United Conservative Party. Former Premier Jason Kenney said the independence movement gained influence within the party as activists angry over COVID-19 restrictions, some influenced by conspiracy theories, embraced separatism.

But some Albertans who want to remain in Canada are angry with Smith for calling the vote.

“I think it’s a travesty really to be putting our province and our country through this when such a small portion of people are rabble rousing and saying they want to separate from Canada,” said Deb Lee, a retired Calgary resident who voted in advance to remain in Canada.

Smith said Carney had substantially addressed seven of nine federal laws Alberta opposed. She also cited cooperation on a proposed oil pipeline.

Independence advocate Tanya Clemens dismissed the agreements between Carney and Smith as “basically pinky promises” that came with too many conditions.

Carney’s chief political rival, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, also urged Albertans Friday to remain in Canada.

“Don’t leave your fellow Canadians behind. Lock arms with them,” Poilievre said.

Despite their agreement on keeping Alberta in Canada, Carney and Smith remain divided over nine other questions on Monday’s ballot involving immigration and provincial powers. Smith wants voters to approve them, while Carney has urged their rejection.

“For the first time in a long time, Alberta and Canada are walking together,” Smith said.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney signs an autograph as he attends a national unity rally in Red Deer, Alberta, Friday Oct. 16, 2026. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a national unity rally in Red Deer, Alberta, alongside, from left, Monte Solberg, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and former Premier Ed Stelmach, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a national unity rally in Red Deer, on Friday Oct. 16, 2026. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a national unity rally in Red Deer, on Friday Oct. 16, 2026. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a national unity rally in Red Deer alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press via AP)