PEIThe Canadian women’s rugby team is ready to charge into the World Cup this weekend for a chance to make history — and Prince Edward Island’s Alysha Corrigan is playing a key role.‘We have the opportunity to… do something extra special for Canada’Marilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 25P.E.I.’s Alysha Corrigan will join Canada on the field in pursuit of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in London, England, on Saturday. (Zoom)The stage is set, and the Canadian women’s rugby team is ready to charge into the World Cup this weekend for a chance to make history — and P.E.I.’s Alysha Corrigan is playing a key role.Canada will face England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in London on Saturday. The two highest-ranked teams in women’s rugby will chase the sport’s top prize starting at noon AT.England’s Red Roses have won a record 32 straight matches since losing to New Zealand in the final of the last World Cup in November 2022. The team is ranked number one in the world and is heading into Saturday’s final as the favourite. “We know exactly what they’re going to bring, and we’ve been preparing… for this game and for this moment,” Corrigan, a Charlottetown native, told CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin.”We’ve been building on each game. And I think that people that have watched our game … [know] that we’re a totally different game and we’re confident and we’re exciting.”I think that we’re just going to keep that as the focus and, you know, go out there and put a smile on our face and enjoy the 82,000 fans.”Canada will face England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in London. It’s the world’s largest rugby stadium, with a capacity of 82,000 people. (Allianz Stadium)But those 82,000 fans, and the volume of a crowd that size, is another factor the team has to prepare for.”We actually did a walking session and practice with headphones on, so we couldn’t hear each other,” Corrigan said. “So we had like made-up hand signals and just like, adding a few little extra things, you know, if you can’t hear each other then we’ll be able to still communicate.”But yeah, it’s going to be pretty crazy…. Especially when it’s a whole nation and a lot of those fans are going to be cheering against you.”WATCH | Team Canada is ready to take on England in the World Cup Rugby final:P.E.I.’s Alysha Corrigan says Team Canada is ready to take on England in the World Cup Rugby finalCanada will face England in the Women’s World Cup rugby final on Sept. 27, with P.E.I.’s Alysha Corrigan playing a key role. She tells CBC’s Louise Martin she’s ready for the challenge. There will certainly be fans cheering for Canada among that sea of people, and Shannon Atkins is one of them. The UPEI Sports Hall of Famer and rugby coach, who recruited Corrigan to play at the university, is in London for the big game.She said her hopes are high.”If England plays like they did against France, and if Canada plays like they did against New Zealand, I think Canada will win,” Atkins said. ‘We’ve always done more with less’Although Canada’s women’s rugby team is ranked second in the world, it has only a fraction of the budget of some of its competitors. In March, Rugby Canada launched a national fundraiser called “Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025” to help cover a gap in funds the team needed to prepare for the tournament. “It just goes to show… we’ve always done more with less,” Corrigan said. “The athletes we are, the team we are, we just, you know, make things work with what we’ve got.”Corrigan said she hopes the team’s success will increase the awareness of rugby in Canada.”We feel that the nation has gotten behind us and, you know, we have done something pretty special,” she said. “But we have the opportunity on Saturday to really make history and do something extra special for Canada.”WATCH | Canada stuns New Zealand with dominant performance:Sophie de Goede leads Canada to the Women’s Rugby World Cup finalSophie de Goede scored a try, two conversions and a penalty as Canada romped to a 34-19 win over New Zealand in the Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinals in Bristol, England.Atkins said it’s also an opportunity to put a spotlight on women’s rugby.”To fill the big stadium, people thought it couldn’t happen. Those tickets sold out immediately and people are scrambling still to get tickets to get there this weekend,” she said. “It’s really important that we recognize women’s sports have that kind of equality in the world, and that kind of draw.”The Canadian wayIn 2014, England beat Canada 21-9 to win the World Cup in Paris.In just over a decade since that loss, Atkins said Canada has developed a very distinct style of play.”They’re very, very fast,” she said. “As they hit the ground, they literally lift the ball up in the air so the next player can pick and go.”LISTEN | P.E.I. rugby coach aims for world title with Canada’s women’s team in England:Island Morning10:49P.E.I. rugby coach aims for world title with Canada’s women’s team in EnglandShannon Atkins, a UPEI Hall of Famer and Island rugby coach, is in London, England as Canada’s women’s team takes aim at World Cup gold this weekend.Atkins said the team has a one-squad philosophy that other countries are starting to try and replicate.”They have something called the Canadian way. The Canadian way is kind and fun and brave.”Corrigan said she has no doubt the Canadian team can take the title. “I just know that this group can do it and this group is so special and we’ve worked so hard,” she said. “I’m just so excited to get on the field and play.”ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from CBC News: Compass and Island Morning
P.E.I.’s Alysha Corrigan and Team Canada eye rugby glory in Women’s World Cup final
