England’s path to potential domestic Rugby World Cup victory has been set by placing the hosts in a pool with Australia, the United States and Samoa for next summer’s tournament.
The Red Roses, topping the world rankings and riding a 20-match winning streak, are clear favorites to do better than New Zealand in 2022.
If the top-seeded team wins each pool, England could only meet world number two Canada or defending champions New Zealand in the final.
Ireland, who claimed a famous upset win over New Zealand in the WXV earlier this month, have been placed in a group with the Black Ferns, Japan and Spain after failing to qualify for the last tournament.
England are set to face the runners-up of the pool containing Scotland and Wales – who are together for the second consecutive tournament – Canada and Fiji in a potential quarter-final.
France are England’s potential last four rivals and they, who were top seeds along with the Red Roses, Canada and New Zealand, are in a group with Italy, South Africa and Brazil.
The draw was hosted by England’s 2014 World Cup winner Maggie Alfonsi on BBC’s The One Show.
The tournament begins with England at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday 22 August and concludes with the final at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on 27 September.