BBC Radio 5 Live to cover England v Canada as Red Roses face WXV rematch at Sandy Park

Match date: 19 September 2026

England v Canada in the WXV Global Series will be available to follow on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday 19 September, with Hamish Marshall reported as the match reporter. The kick-off is at 15:00 UK time from Sandy Park, Exeter, and BBC Sport has also confirmed live coverage of England’s WXV matches against Australia, Canada and New Zealand on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. BBC Sport

This is one of the standout fixtures in the women’s international calendar because it is a rematch of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, which England won 33-13. The game also comes in the opening rounds of the WXV Global Series 2026, with World Rugby listing the match at Sandy Park and confirming the official team match details for the contest. World Rugby

Hamish Marshall is the reporter named for this BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast. In rugby coverage, the reporter’s role is to provide live updates, pitchside colour, team reaction and key moments for listeners, particularly on a station such as 5 Live that mixes commentary with breaking news and analysis for a UK audience.

The BBC’s decision to carry the match across radio and digital platforms underlines the growing profile of the Red Roses. BBC Sport said the coverage will include live streams on iPlayer as well as text coverage throughout the series, giving supporters multiple ways to follow England’s latest meeting with one of their biggest challengers.

For England, this fixture also offers an early benchmark in their autumn programme. The Red Roses have long been among the dominant sides in women’s rugby, while Canada remain one of the sport’s most respected and competitive nations, making this a genuine test rather than a routine home international. The two teams’ recent World Cup final meeting adds extra context and interest for viewers and listeners in Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand alike.

Supporters outside the UK should also note that broadcast arrangements vary by territory, with RugbyPass TV carrying the match in several regions and North American coverage listed elsewhere, but in Britain the key audio option is BBC Radio 5 Live. That makes this an easy fixture to track for anyone unable to watch live, particularly with the game taking place at a convenient Saturday afternoon slot.

From a presenter and punditry perspective, BBC rugby coverage has traditionally leaned on experienced broadcasters and former players to explain the tactics and technical detail around England’s women’s team. That broader editorial approach is part of why BBC output remains a central point of reference for major Red Roses matches, especially when they face elite opposition such as Canada.

With England v Canada set as one of the headline games of the WXV Global Series weekend, the combination of BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC iPlayer and live online coverage should ensure wide access to a fixture that has the feel of a championship-level occasion rather than a standard test match.

Article generated: 19 September 2026, 15:02 GMT