England women confirmed as top seeds for 2021 Rugby World Cup
England women have been named among the top seeds for next year's Rugby World Cup as they seek to regain the trophy they last lifted in 2014.
World Rugby, the game's governing body, opted to use rankings taken from January 1 after southern hemisphere teams were unable to play for the rest of this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
That put England among the top tier of the teams, alongside hosts and defending champions New Zealand, who beat the Red Roses 41-32 in the previous global final in 2017 and Canada, who England defeated to win the title in France six years ago.
The draw for the 2021 Rugby World Cup takes place in Auckland on November 20. Seven teams have automatically qualified for the 12 available spots, including two-time winners England and Wales, after they secured a top-seven finish at the last tournament in Ireland in 2017.
France, bronze medallists in 2017, Australia and the United States are in the second tier for the draw. Wales, South Africa and the top-ranked European qualifier will make up the third tier of seeds, while Fiji, an Asian qualifier and the qualifying tournament winner will be in tier four.
"We are in unusual and unique times with the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic," World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said. "However, working in full partnership with New Zealand Rugby and local and national authorities, we are committed to a spectacular Rugby World Cup 2021."
Five-time winners New Zealand will host the tournament, set to run next year from September 18, the first to take place in the southern hemisphere. Matches will be held in Auckland and Whangarei, with the final to be held at Eden Park, which hosted the 1987 and 2011 men's World Cup finals.
