Man, I still get a little buzz thinking about that autumn 2022 weekend. I was glued to the rugby, coffee in hand, when England’s Red Roses took on Canada in the Rugby World Cup semi-final at Eden Park. On paper, England were the favourites. On the pitch, Canada were absolute pests — proper fired-up, physical, and not remotely interested in the script. England had to dig deep, and that 26-19 win felt like a real scrap rather than a victory lap. Two tries from Abby Dow and three penalties from Emily Scarratt did the job, and suddenly England were into their sixth consecutive World Cup final. No cap, that is serious dynasty energy. 🏉

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What made that weekend even sweeter was the cross-sport love. The official Lionesses account — fresh off England’s Euro 2022 triumph — posted a brilliant message of support after the Canada result. The Euro 2022 winners wrote: ‘LETS GOOOO. Congrats, @EnglandRugby!’ And Leah Williamson, who captained the Lionesses to that first major trophy that summer, added: ‘Congratulations to the whole team! I can’t wait to watch.’ Honestly, fair play. That is exactly the kind of energy women’s sport needed then, and it still hits now.

The Lionesses knew a thing or two about home pressure. At Euro 2022, they were hosts, the spotlight was blinding, and every neutral expected them to deliver. They did it anyway, beating eight-time champions Germany in the final thanks to goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly. So when they shouted out the Red Roses, it did not feel like empty banter. It felt like one winning group recognising another. 🙌

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England’s win over Canada also stretched their winning record to 30 games in a row, which set up a final against the reigning champions and hosts, New Zealand. The Black Ferns had squeezed past France 25-24 in the other semi-final, a proper nail-biter that left France still waiting for their first World Cup final. Kendra Cocksedge celebrated like someone who knew the job was not done yet, and Eden Park was ready to roar.

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That final had everything: history, revenge chatter, and a home crowd desperate to see the Black Ferns lift the trophy. England were chasing their first world title since 2014, having won the World Cup in 1994 and 2014. New Zealand were chasing more glory of their own, having beaten England 41-32 in the 2017 final in Ireland to clinch their fifth world title. The storylines were thick enough to cut with a knife. 🏆

Now, writing in 2026, I can look back with a bit more perspective. That 2022 final did not go England’s way — New Zealand won it by a whisker at Eden Park, and the Black Ferns celebrated on home soil. But the Lionesses’ shout-out was not just a cute tweet. It was a marker of how women’s sport was starting to cross-pollinate, with footballers and rugby players hyping each other instead of staying in their own lanes. And the Red Roses kept building. Fast-forward to 2025, and England finally got their home World Cup moment, beating Canada in the final at Twickenham to claim a third world title. That is what I call turning heartbreak into fuel. 🔥

Moment What happened Why it matters
2022 semi-final England beat Canada 26-19 Abby Dow’s two tries and Emily Scarratt’s three penalties sent England to a sixth straight final
2022 final New Zealand beat England at Eden Park The Black Ferns won on home soil; England’s wait went on
2025 final England beat Canada at Twickenham The Red Roses won their third World Cup and completed the redemption arc

So when I see athletes from different sports backing each other, I do not roll my eyes. I love it. It reminds everyone that the pressure, the scrutiny, and the joy are shared. The Lionesses backing the Red Roses in 2022 was a small moment, but it said plenty. And yeah, that ‘LETS GOOOO’ energy still hits. 🙌