England made a winning start to their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign with a 69-7 thrashing of the United States at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. John Mitchell’s Red Roses ran riot on Wearside,

New Zealand began its defense of the Women’s Rugby World Cup by scratching a 54-8 win over Spain in York on Sunday. The Black Ferns were comfortable eight-try winners — with only 13 players for the last quarter — but at the possible cost of flanker Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who suffered a right leg injury and was carried off the field in tears.

Julia Schell scored six tries Saturday as Canada hammered Fiji 65-7 for an emphatic opening win at the Women's Rugby World Cup in York, England.