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The countdown to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 gathered pace over the last 12 months with the launch of a vibrant logo and new website in May, the legacy programme for the tournament set out and finals tickets going on sale before the pool draw took place in Belfast in November.The draw was held at the impressive Belfast City Hall on 9 November and made by World FINAL COUNTDOWN TO#WRWC2017Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont, WRWC 2017 Ambassador Fiona Coghlan, WRWC 2014 winner Maggie Alphonsi and former Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Peters.It provided players with a focus as they learned their opponents for the 9-26 August showpiece event in Ireland, and fans are guaranteed some mouth-watering matches with four-time winners New Zealand paired with 2014 runners-up Canada in Pool A, and defending champions England against 1991 winners USA in Pool B to name but two.The top seven teams at WRWC 2014 – England, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and Australia – had qualified automatically for Ireland 2017, while Italy and Wales confirmed their place in the tournament in March as the top two ranked sides outside of England, France and Ireland is poised to welcome 12 teams to its shores for what promises to be the best Women’s Rugby World Cup yet.36 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2016