The French women's rugby team, known as the XV, secured a significant victory over Canada with a score of 21-5 on Saturday, September 26, at the Marcel-Deflandre Stadium in La Rochelle. This win marked their best performance in the current era under coach François Ratier and was their final match in the WXV 2026 European tournament. Earlier in the competition, the French team had faced difficulties, losing to New Zealand (14-28) and Australia (29-26). Émilie Boulard was the standout player for France, scoring two tries—one in the 23rd minute and another in the 50th minute. Carla Arbez converted both tries successfully. During a period when France was down a player due to a yellow card given to Charity Williams, the Canadians tried to push forward with a maul but were unable to capitalize on the advantage. The French team showcased a strong blend of experience and youth, with both veterans and new players contributing to the victory. Mouna Touré made her first starting appearance and delivered a complete performance, while Marie Ibanez, a debutant, nearly made her mark as well. Alexandra Chambon added the third and final try for France in the 79th minute. Marie Ibanez expressed pride in the team's performance, highlighting the mix of seasoned players and emerging talent. According to L’Équipe, Ibanez said, "The whole team is very proud of the performance we delivered today. Especially because we were a mix of veterans and young players. But it's true that here, we see that something has grown in us, in the group." This victory was particularly notable as France, currently ranked fourth in the World Rugby rankings, had not defeated a higher-ranked team in nearly three years. Their last such win was in October 2023 against New Zealand under the leadership of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz. Émilie Boulard reflected on the significance of the win, emphasizing its importance for the team's progress under François Ratier. According to Rugbyrama, Boulard said, "In the French team, we work to win matches like this, but it doesn't happen often. We have suffered many defeats against England, for example. We have also experienced many reverses recently against these teams, the Canada, New Zealand, sometimes with large scores. So it's a great reward for the work we have started to implement with François Ratier this last year." The Canadian team had recently drawn with England (26-26) and had previously defeated Scotland (24-64) in mid-September. The French women's XV now face a challenging tour in New Zealand from October 17 to 31.