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 tournament’s second game, scheduled a day after host nation France kick off the 48-match competition, probably against Argentina, in Paris.

England’s 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.

If England win Pool A, then their quarter-final – possibly against Wales in a repeat of the 2003 last-eight epic – is scheduled for Marseille on October 7.

Should England finish as runners-up, then a 2003 World Cup final re-match against Australia looks likely, also in Marseille.

Both semi-finals and finals will take place at Stade de France, with World Cup final day announced as October 20, 2007.

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.

Elsewhere, New Zealand will play in Marseille, Lyon, Edinburgh and Toulouse; Australia in Lyon, Cardiff, Montpellier and Bordeaux; with South Africa rolling into Paris, Lens and Montpellier.

The fixture schedule and venues for the sixth Rugby World Cup were announced by tournament organisers in Paris today, with the 48 fixtures earmarked for 12 different cities.

“We will prepare for this World Cup an unforgettable event for the world of rugby,” said Bernard Lapasset, president of the French organising committee.

“It will be a great festival, in line with the values of sharing and friendship our sport conveys.”

And Syd Millar, chairman of Rugby World Cup Limited, added: “We have a common ambition with the French organising committee to organise the best Rugby World Cup yet.”

It was also announced today that 36 of the 48 games will be played on weekends, with only Tuesday and Wednesdays used for matches in the week.

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).