RUGBY WORLD CUP England seek end to pain, as Canada try to 'burst their aura'

ENGLAND, the team that have everything except the thing they most want, face Canada in today’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final, with coach John Mitchell hoping lessons he learned in the men’s game can end their long wait for global glory.

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England are the best-backed team in women’s rugby, their governing Rugby Football Union reporting annual revenues for the financial year of 2023/24 of £175.2 million.

Canada, meanwhile, launched a crowdfunding campaign to bolster their bid for an inaugural world title, with £1.4 million of backing from their national union boosted by nearly £540,000 of external investment.

But coach Kevin Rouet insisted Rugby Canada “did their best”, with the additional finance needed “to win the World Cup, not just to go to the World Cup’.

The Red Roses, on a record 32-game winning streak, also compete in England’s unrivalled Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).

They now go into today’s finale at Twickenham, the headquarters of English rugby union, set to be roared on by an expected capacity crowd of over 82,000 — which will smash the record for a women’s 15-a-side match.