The World Rugby Council ratified the process at its meeting in London last week and will make a decision on the host nation at a scheduled meeting in May 2015.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the tournament would be brought forward from 2018, before returning to a four-year cycle after 2017, to maximise synergy with the Olympic Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens cycles and allow the world's best female players to compete on the biggest stage.

The Women's Rugby World Cup was first held in 1991, with England triumphing at the hugely successful 2014 edition in France after a thrilling final against Canada in Paris, to bring to an end a run of four successive victories for New Zealand.

Editions have also taken place in Wales, Scotland, The Netherlands, Spain, Canada and England, with United States the only other nation as well as England and New Zealand to have won the event.

The 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup in France attracted record crowds and television audiences ©Getty Images



"This year's Women's Rugby World Cup in France was a watershed moment for the women's game," said head of Rugby World Cup, Alan Gilpin.

"With record crowds, record TV audiences and the fantastic rugby on display, it really raised the bar for the sport.

"We've already had interest from a number of unions in hosting 2017, and judging from the media interest and crowd participation this year, I really believe it will be another fantastic event, wherever it takes place."

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