The first African qualifier is due to take place at the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in the South African city of East London, where the hosts will look to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup against Uganda on September 7.

Four Asian teams will do battle for a place at the tournament at Kazakhstan's Almaty Stadium, with Japan due to take on Hong Kong and the host nation facing Singapore on September 4, with the deciding game to be played between the two winners of the semi-finals at the same venue on September 7.

"This is the first time we are having a qualification process for Africa, which recognises the level of development reached in the region," said IRB women's development manager Susan Carty.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset handed the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy to French national team official Nathalie Janvier  last month

"To host games of such significance in Kazakhstan is a massive boost for rugby in Asia and is just reward for all the hard work that is being done on the ground."

"It will also be good for the other teams that have already secured their place in France 2014 to know who they might come up against in just over a year's time."

Pool matches and some knockout fixtures at next year's tournament will take place at the French Rugby Federation (FFR) in Marcoussis and Marcoussis Rugby Club, and the semi-finals, the bronze medal match and the final are set to be held at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.

Matches are due take place on August 1, 5, 9, 13, before the final takes place on August 17.

Defending champions New Zealand are one of the ten teams to have already qualified for the tournament, along with 2010 runners-up England, hosts France, Australia, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Wales, Spain and Samoa.

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