WALES will go up against Canada, Scotland and Fiji in the group stages of next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Ioan Cunningham’s side will face each of their Pool B rivals over three weekends in the tournament, which runs from August 22 to September 27.
The full match schedule for the expanded 16-team competition is set to be released on Tuesday, with Wales gunning for a top-two spot to move into the quarter-finals.
Canada, second in the world rankings, are pool favourites while Fiji are the minnows.
The crunch clash looks likely to be against Scotland; Wales edged them out at the last World Cup but the Scots have won the last two meetings.
CLASH: Wales and Scotland will meet at the 2025 World Cup (Image: David Davies)
The runners-up in the group are likely to meet England – who will face Australia, the United States and Samoa – in the knockout stages.
Ireland will get the chance to face New Zealand again, having beaten the defending world champions in their opening WXV1 match in Vancouver last month, in Pool C with Japan and Spain.
France are top seeds in Pool D, where they will take on Italy, South Africa and World Cup debutants Brazil.
England entered Thursday night’s draw as the highest-ranked team of all time on the back of a 20th successive victory when beating Canada to retain their WXV 1 title, adding to the Grand Slam won earlier in the year.
The Red Roses have not lost since being edged out 34-31 by New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final and John Mitchell’s side will be hoping to go one better on home soil.
It had already been confirmed England – who last won the World Cup in 2014 – will play their opening match in Sunderland, with the remaining two pool matches being hosted at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton and Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
Other venues will be Sandy Park in Exeter, Salford and York as well as Ashton Gate in Bristol, which will also host a quarter-final and then both semi-final fixtures ahead of the final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
