England, grouped in Pool A alongside South Africa and three yet-to-be-decided qualifiers, launch the World Cup campaign against Americas 3, which looks likely to be the USA Eagles or Canada.

It will be the tournaments second game, scheduled a day after host nation France kick off the 48-match competition, probably against Argentina, in Paris.

Englands pivotal pool appointment with the Springboks is scheduled for September 14 at Stade de France in Paris.

And they will conclude the group stages by facing Oceania 1 (probably Samoa or Fiji) in Nantes on September 22, followed by a repechage qualifier (possibly Tonga) at Parc des Princes in Paris six days later.

Wales launch their campaign against Americas 2 in Nantes on September 9, then face Australia and an Asian qualifier in Cardiff, before returning to Nantes on September 29 and an appointment with Oceania 2.

Scotland start against the top repechage qualifier in St Etienne on September 9, followed by appointments with Europe 2 and New Zealand at Murrayfield, followed by Europe 1 in St Etienne.

Ireland, meanwhile, open against an African qualifier in Bordeaux on September 9, where they also play Europe 3, with their key Pool D game against France scheduled for Stade de France and a game against Americas 1 taking place at Parc des Princes.

2007 Rugby World Cup match schedule:

September
7 - Pool D, France v Americas 1 (St Denis, Paris).
8 - Pool A, England v Americans 3 (Lens); Pool B, Australia v Asia (Lyon); Pool C, New Zealand v Europe 1 (Marseille).
9 - Pool D, Ireland v Africa (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Americas 2 (Nantes); Pool A, South Africa v Oceania 1 (Parc des Princes, Paris); Pool C, Scotland v Repechage 1 (St Etienne).
11 - Pool D, Americas 1 v Europe 3 (Lyon).
12 - Pool C, Europe 1 v Europe 2 (Marseille); Pool A, America 3 v Repechage 2 (Montpellier); Pool B, Asia v Oceania 2 (Toulouse).
14 - Pool A, England v South Africa (St Denis, Paris).
15 - Pool D, Ireland v Europe 3 (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Australia (Cardiff); Pool C, New Zealand v Repechage 1 (Lyon).
16 - Pool B, Oceania 2 v Americas 2 (Cardiff); Pool A, Oceania 1 v Repechage 2 (Montpellier); Pool D, France v Asia (Toulouse).
18 - Pool C, Scotland v Europe 2 (Edinburgh).
19 - Pool C, Europe 1 v Repechage 1 (Parc des Prices, Paris).
20 - Pool B, Wales v Asia (Cardiff).
21 - Pool D, France v Ireland (St Etienne).
22 - Pool A, South Africa v Repechage 2 (Lens); Pool D, Americas 1 v Africa (Marseille); Pool A, England v Oceania 1 (Nantes).
23 - Pool C, Scotland v New Zealand (Edinburgh); Pool B, Australia v Oceania 2 (Montpellier).
25 - Pool B, Americas 2 v Asia (Bordeaux); Pool C, Europe 2 v Repechage 1 (Toulouse).
26 - Pool D, Europe 3 v Africa (Lens); Pool A, Oceania 1 v Americas 3 (St Etienne).
28 - Pool A, England v Repechage 2 (Parc des Princes, Paris).
29 - Pool B, Australia v Americas 2 (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Oceania 2 (Nantes); Pool C, Scotland v Europe 1 (St Etienne); Pool C, New Zealand v Europe 2 (Toulouse).
30 - Pool D, France v Europe 3 (Marseille); Pool A, South Africa v Americas 3 (Montpellier); Pool D, Ireland v Americas 1 (Parc des Princes, Paris).
October
6 - first quarter-final, winner Pool B v runner-up Pool A (Marseille); second quarter-final, winner Pool C v runner-up Pool D (Cardiff).
7 - third quarter-final, winner Pool A v runner-up Pool B (Marseille); fourth quarter-final, winner Pool D v runner-up Pool C (St Denis, Paris).
13 - first semi-final (St Denis, Paris).
14 - second semi-final (St Denis, Paris).
19 - third place play-off (Parc des Princes, Paris).
20 - final (St Denis, Paris).