After December’s draw, the full tournament schedule was released on Monday evening (Tuesday morning in Australia), giving England a schedule of matches against Tonga, Zimbabwe and Wales spread over 15 days.
England will start their campaign against Tonga on October 2 in Brisbane, then face Zimbabwe in Adelaide on October 8, before completing the pool stage against Wales on October 16 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, which will host the final on November 13.
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Given their opposition, both England and Wales would expect to qualify for the knockout stages, but topping Pool F could crucially earn one of them an easier onward path.
The winner of the group will play their last-16 fixture in Perth, while the runner-up will play in Sydney.
Hosts Australia will open the tournament against Hong Kong in Perth on October 1, with England and Wales both featuring on the second day of action.
Ireland and Scotland face each other in the second round of pool stage fixtures, in a contest that they will also hope decides who wins their pool.
Scotland begin their Pool D campaign against Uruguay on October 3 in Melbourne, with Ireland in action the following day against Portugal in Sydney.
The Six Nations rivals then meet on October 10 in Perth, before both completing the pool stage on October 17, with Ireland facing Uruguay in Melbourne and Scotland taking on Portugal in Brisbane.
In another of the most eye-catching pool phase fixtures, Australia take on New Zealand in Sydney on October 9.
South Africa, who will be seeking a third successive World Cup triumph, start against Italy in Adelaide on October 3, before going on to face Georgia in Brisbane and Romania in Perth.
Key pool stage fixtures
October 2: England v Tonga, Pool F, Brisbane Stadium
Wales v Zimbabwe, Pool F, Adelaide Oval
October 3: Scotland v Uruguay, Pool D, Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
October 4: Ireland v Portugal, Pool D, Sydney Football Stadium
October: 8 England v Zimbabwe, Pool F, Adelaide Oval
Wales v Tonga, Pool F, Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
October 10: Ireland v Scotland, Pool D, Perth Stadium
October 16: England v Wales, Pool F, Stadium Australia, Sydney
October 17: Ireland v Uruguay, Pool D, Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Scotland v Portugal, Pool D, Brisbane Stadium
