England ended a run of four consecutive wins for New Zealand by winning the 2014 edition of the tournament in France.

Pool stage matches are set to take place at two venues at University College Dublin (UCD) - the UCD Bowl and Billings Park - on three match days on August 9, 13 and 17.

Defending champions England are due to open the tournament at the UCD Bowl when they meet Pool B rivals Spain tomorrow.

Captain Sarah Hunter claims changes to England's playing and coaching staff have not dented the team's desire to win.

"We are reigning champions but that has been and gone," she said.

"We're very proud of that and have achieved that but this is a new squad in terms of players and management and the 28 here are one of 11 other teams that are going to go on and try and win it.

"We're very much of the mindset that we're here to win a competition not retain a trophy we won in 2014."

Joining England and Spain in Pool B are Italy and the United States.

New Zealand will be keen to regain the title they lost three years ago and have been drawn in Pool A alongside Hong Kong, Canada and Wales.

Kiwi captain Fiao'o Faamausili is confident her team will be stronger this time around.

"They talk about us losing the last World Cup in 2014, I look at it as you never lose, either you win or you learn," she said.

"It is not a great feeling of losing but it was a good thing for us to look back, to reflect on our team and to make sure that we start rebuilding and this is what we have done.

"We have got new players, new talent coming through, so it's new to those girls and we want to get them a victory in the World Cup."

Group C sees hosts Ireland square off against France, Australia and Japan.

Following the conclusion of the group stage round, the semi-finals are due to take place at the Kingspan Stadium on August 22 with the final scheduled for August 26, once again at the home of Ulster Rugby in Belfast.

Ranking play-off games will take place at Belfast's Queen's University on the same dates.