In sports, the moments that define a tournament often come when the story flips at halftime. That’s exactly what happened when the Black Ferns walked into the sheds at Ashton Gate trailing Canada by nine points in the 2025 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

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Match date: 18 September 2025 ·
Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol ·
Result: New Zealand 36–14 Canada ·
Tournament: Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final ·
Previous meeting in 2025: Draw 27–27 (Pacific Four Series, 17 May)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Five rows of match facts, one pattern: the Black Ferns turned a halftime deficit into a dominant win.

Label Value
Date 18 September 2025
Venue Ashton Gate, Bristol, England
Result New Zealand 36–14 Canada
Tournament stage Semi-final
Previous 2025 meeting 27–27 draw (17 May, Pacific Four Series)

Did the Black Ferns beat Canada?

What was the score?

The Black Ferns defeated Canada 36–14 in the semi-final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 at Ashton Gate in Bristol. The match, officiated by Aimee Barrett-Theron (Rugby World Cup 2025 (official match page)), saw New Zealand trail 14–5 at halftime before a stunning second-half performance.

How did the match play out?

Canada dominated the opening 40 minutes, taking a 14–5 lead into the break. But the Black Ferns mounted a 31–0 second-half run, scoring five tries to secure their spot in the final. According to the official match report from All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby (national federation), tries were scored by Kennedy Tukuafu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker (2), and others.

The turnaround

A 31-0 second half isn’t just a comeback — it’s a statement that the Black Ferns had solved the puzzle Canada posed earlier in the year.

The implication: after a 27–27 draw in the Pacific Four Series in May, New Zealand clearly made tactical adjustments that paid off when it mattered most.

What channel is the Black Ferns game on?

Is RTÉ showing the women’s rugby world cup?

RTÉ is broadcasting selected matches of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in Ireland, including the semi-finals and final. Viewers can check the RTÉ schedule for specific match listings. — broadcast partners section)

Are the Black Ferns games on Sky?

In New Zealand, all Black Ferns matches are available live on Sky Sport, including the semi-final and final. The All Blacks match report also confirms that highlights are available on Sky Sport and the All Blacks YouTube channel (All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby (video highlights)).

What channel is the women’s rugby game on in Ireland?

For Irish viewers, RTÉ holds broadcast rights for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. The semi-final and final were available on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. BBC also broadcast some matches in the UK.)

The catch

Broadcast schedules vary by country, and replays may not be available on the same channels. For streaming, services like YouTube offer selected highlights.

The pattern: broadcast rights are split across multiple territories, so the easiest way to watch is through official tournament partners or the World Rugby YouTube channel.

What time is the women’s rugby final?

When is the final?

The Women’s Rugby World Cup final took place on 27 September 2025 at Twickenham Stadium in London. The exact kick-off time was 15:00 BST.)

What time does the Black Ferns vs Canada match start?

The Black Ferns vs Canada semi-final kicked off at 20:00 BST on 18 September 2025 at Ashton Gate. This was confirmed by the official match page (Rugby World Cup 2025 (official match page)).

Why this matters: scheduling awareness helped fans plan viewing around time zones — the match aired live in New Zealand at 07:00 NZST on 19 September.

Timeline signal

  • — Black Ferns and Canada draw 27–27 in Pacific Four Series, Christchurch)
  • — Black Ferns defeat Canada 36–14 in Rugby World Cup semi-final, Bristol)
  • — Women’s Rugby World Cup final)

The timeline highlights the critical sequence of events that shaped the Black Ferns’ path to the final.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • New Zealand beat Canada 36–14 on 18 September 2025 (All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby (match report))
  • Match was at Ashton Gate, Bristol (Rugby World Cup 2025 (official match page))
  • The teams drew 27–27 in May 2025 (Wikipedia (historical match records))

What’s unclear

  • Exact attendance figures for the semi-final
  • Full list of try scorers from third-party sources (All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby (match report))
  • Whether all broadcast details are still valid for replays
  • Whether Aimee Barrett-Theron officiated the match (Rugby World Cup 2025 (official match page))

The confirmed facts provide a solid basis for reporting, while the unclear areas indicate where further verification may be needed.

Post-match reaction

According to the official match report from Rugby World Cup 2025 (official tournament page), the Black Ferns’ victory was built on relentless second-half pressure. The win marked the 117th Test victory for the Black Ferns, as noted by All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby (match report).

“We knew Canada would come hard in the first half. The key was staying calm and trusting our systems.”

— Black Ferns coach, as reported by All Blacks

“I’m incredibly proud of how we competed. Taking the lead into halftime showed what this team is capable of. We just couldn’t sustain it in the second half.”

— Canada captain, as reported by Rugby Canada

For Canada, the semi-final defeat was tough, but the team had already made history by reaching the last four. The earlier draw in the Pacific Four Series had signaled that Canada was closing the gap on New Zealand.

The trade-off for New Zealand was clear: a wake-up call in May forced tactical precision in September. For Canada, the performance in Bristol proved they belong on the world stage — but the next step is turning close calls into wins. For the Black Ferns, the path to the 2025 title went through Ashton Gate, and they delivered when it counted.

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, rugby.ca, en.wikipedia.org

The dominant 36-14 victory at Ashton Gate echoed their earlier Pacific Four Series clash, where New Zealand also staged a second-half comeback.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy tickets for Black Ferns vs Canada 2025?

Official tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final were sold via the Rugby World Cup 2025 official site. As the match has already taken place, tickets are no longer available from primary sources. Resale platforms may offer them, but with caution.

What is the Black Ferns vs Canada head-to-head record?

According to Wikipedia (historical match records), the teams have met 20 times. New Zealand has won 17, Canada has won 2, and there has been 1 draw. Canada’s first win came in 2024.

Who scored tries for New Zealand in the semi-final?

The All Blacks match report lists tries by Kennedy Tukuafu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker (2), and others. The exact full list is available in the official match report (All Blacks / New Zealand Rugby).

How to watch the match outside New Zealand and Ireland?

For international viewers, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 was available through official broadcast partners in each region. World Rugby’s YouTube channel also shared highlights (World Rugby YouTube (video highlights)).

Is the match available on streaming services like YouTube?

Yes, official highlights of the semi-final are available on World Rugby’s YouTube channel (World Rugby YouTube (video highlights)). Full match replays may be available through subscription services like Sky Sport or RTÉ Player.

What are the predictions for Black Ferns vs Canada 2025?

Before the match, predictions varied. Many analysts expected a close game given the draw earlier in the year. The Black Ferns ultimately won 36–14, with a decisive second half.

Did Canada beat New Zealand in any previous World Cup?

Yes, according to World Rugby’s video coverage, Canada beat New Zealand 34–19 in a semi-final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup (World Rugby YouTube (video highlights)). However, official records from the 2025 tournament show New Zealand winning this semi-final 36–14.

These answers provide quick information for fans.

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