Canada captain de Goede still loses sleep after World Cup final loss to England

Canada’s women’s rugby captain Sophie de Goede revealed that the defeat to England in last year’s World Cup final continues to affect her sleep. The match, held in October 2022 at the historic Eden Park in Auckland, saw England prevail 34‑31 after a tightly contested game that went into extra time. De Goede, who led Canada into the final for the first time in the tournament’s history, said the narrow loss and the moments that slipped away in the closing minutes have lingered with her, noting that she “still loses sleep” when thinking about the outcome.

The emotional impact of the loss has prompted De Goede and the Canadian squad to focus on mental resilience as they prepare for upcoming international fixtures, including the 2025 Pacific Four Series and the next Rugby World Cup cycle. Coaching staff have incorporated sports‑psychology resources into training, aiming to transform the disappointment into motivation for future success. As the team looks ahead, De Goede emphasized a collective commitment to learning from the experience, reinforcing Canada’s resolve to return stronger on the world stage.