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TORONTO — Canada will be tested early at next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, placed in Pool A with New Zealand, Wales and a qualifier.

The 12-team World Cup runs Aug. 9-26, with the pool stages in Dublin and the semifinal and final in Belfast.

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The Canadian women, who were runners-up to England at the 2014 tournament, are currently ranked second in the world. New Zealand is No. 1 and Wales No. 10.

The Canadian pool will be completed by the runner-up of the Asia/Oceania qualifying tournament Dec. 9-17 in Hong Kong involving No. 17 Japan, No. 23 Hong Kong and No. 30 Fiji.

No. 3 England was drawn in Pool B with the seventh-ranked Americans, No. 8 Italy and either No. 9 Spain or No. 13 Scotland.

Pool C features No. 4 France, No. 5 Ireland, No. 6 Australia and the winner of next month’s Asia/Oceania qualifier.

“New Zealand in the pool is a big challenge but in 2014 we had England which too was a big challenge,” Canadian coach Francois Ratier said in a statement. “If you want to be world champion you’ve got to beat the best and we will meet that challenge.