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The countdown is officially on for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.

A draw has revealed the pathway to the final for 16 of the top women’s rugby union teams from around the world - this is four more teams than the 12 in the previous competition.

The tournament is set to be held in England for the first time since 2010 and the host team, known as the Red Roses, are at the top of the world rankings.

The tournament begins next year on Friday 22 August and ends with the final on 27 September.

Read on to find out everything you need to know...

The groups have been drawn with teams placed into four groups of four teams:

Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa

Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji

Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain

Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil

The match schedule will be revealed on Tuesday 22 October.

England currently sit at the top of the world rankings. They are on a 20-match winning streak and are the favourites to win.

The last team to take the title was New Zealand when they beat England in the final in 2022 - the Black Ferns, as they're known, have won six of the nine tournaments to date.

Ireland, who claimed a surprise win over New Zealand in the WXV competition a few weeks ago, are grouped with New Zealand, 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.

France are England’s likeliest last-four opponents. They are the top seed in their group, along with England, Canada and New Zealand.

If the top-seeded team wins each pool, England could only meet world number twos Canada or New Zealand in the final.

For the first time ever, the tournament will be hosted across eight venues and cities around the country.

These are Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Ashton Gate in Bristol, Sandy Park in Exeter, Salford Community Stadium, Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton, the Stadium of Light in Sunderland and York Community Stadium and Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in London, where the final will be played.