The three countries have been drawn in Pool C and will be joined by the winner of next month's Asia/Oceania qualifier.

Reigning champions England have been placed in Pool B and will meet the United States, Italy and either Spain or Scotland, who will contest a two-leg play-off for the right to qualify for the competition.

Pool A will see four-times winners New Zealand play Wales, Canada and the runners-up from the Asia/Oceania qualifier, which will feature Fiji, Japan and Hong Kong. 

The draw took place at the City Hall in Belfast, which will host the semi-finals and finals of the 12-team competition at Kingspan Stadium.

Pool stage games will be played at the UCD Bowl in Dublin with the competition running between August 9 and 26 next year.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont, former Irish captain Fiona Coghlan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2014 winner Maggie Alphonsi and former Olympic pentathlon gold medallist Dame Mary Peters were present to carry out the draw.

"The last Women's Rugby World Cup in France was a watershed moment for the women's game, with record crowds and massive TV audiences watching across the world," said Beaumont.

"There are some fantastic matches in store in August and, with over two million women and girls currently playing the sport, I have no doubt that next year's Women's Rugby World Cup in Dublin and Belfast will be a fantastic event and encourage many more women and girls to get involved with the sport."

Niamh Briggs, the current captain of Ireland, added: "I think the three groups are really competitive and in a Women's Rugby World Cup with these three teams, there are no easy games.

"For us, it's all about building towards next August and each and every game will hold something special for us."