The Women's Rugby World Cup in 2014 is fast approaching. With the qualification process heating up, here's our guide to how teams from around the world can qualify for the 12 team competition. Four teams are already guaranteed their places but what does everyone else need to do?

Women’s Rugby World Cup (Paris, 2014) (12 teams)

Automatic qualifiers (4 teams)

Top 3 from 2010 (New Zealand, England, and Australia), plus hosts (France).

Europe (3 or 4 teams)

Including France and England, 11 teams have entered from Europe for the 2014 tournament – one less than four years ago. The top two Six Nations teams, based in 2012 and 2013 results (but excluding France and England) will qualify for the first two of Europe’s places.

The other two places will be decided at a six nation tournament to be held in 2013. This tournament will include the other two Six Nations teams, Netherlands and Sweden (finalists at the 2013 European “B” Championship), Spain – and Samoa from Oceania (see below).

Africa (1 team)

Three teams from Africa will compete for the continent’s place in Paris, two up from 2010 when South Africa qualified unopposed. The winner of the 2013 Elgon Cup between Kenya and Uganda will play-off against South Africa for the World Cup qualification.

Asia (1 team)

An Asian qualification tournament is due to take place in 2013, but details about a venue or entrants have not been released. Four Asian countries entered the 2010 World Cup, and it is expected that at least that number will enter this time.

Americas (2 teams)

Canada and USA qualify unopposed, as in 2010.

Oceania (0 or 1 team)

Samoa are Oceania’s only entrant - other than New Zealand and Australia, who automatically qualify. This is the same as for 2010. They will take part in Europe’s final qualification process (see above)