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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Red Roses, runaway leaders at the top of the world rankings and on a 20-match winning streak, are clear favourites to go one better than they did in New Zealand in 2022.<\/p>\n
If the top-seeded team wins each pool, England could only meet world number twos Canada or defending champions New Zealand in the final.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
France are England\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The draw was conducted on BBC’s The One Show by England’s 2014 World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi.<\/p>\n
The tournament begins on Friday 22 August with England in action at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and culminates in the final at Twickenham\u2019s Allianz Stadium on 27 September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n