England’s path to a possible home Rugby World Cup triumph has been mapped out with the hosts placed in a pool alongside Australia, USA, and Samoa for next summer’s tournament.
The Red Roses, runaway leaders at the top of the world rankings and on 20-match winning streak, are clear favourites to go one better than they did in New Zealand in 2022.
If the top-seeded team wins each pool, England could only meet world number twos Canada or defending champions New Zealand in the final.
Ireland, who claimed a famous upset win over New Zealand in WXV earlier this month, are grouped with the Black Ferns, Japan and Spain after failing to qualify for the previous tournament.
England face a potential quarter-final against the runners-up from the pool containing Scotland and Wales – drawn together for the second straight tournament – Canada and Fiji.
France are England’s likeliest last-four opponents and they, who along with the Red Roses, Canada and New Zealand were top seeds, are in a group with Italy, South Africa and Brazil.
The draw was conducted on BBC’s The One Show by England’s 2014 World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi.
The tournament begins on Friday 22 August with England in action at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and culminates in the final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 27 September.