In his exclusive column for BBC Sport Online, the England fly-half described the proposal to revolutionise the tournament as both "ambitious" and "brave".

On Monday, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced its plans to introduce a new 'two-tier' system of competition, should England win the right to host the tournament.

If the International Rugby Board agree, two world cups would be held in parallel in 2007 encompassing:

• One main revamped competition, incorporating a new 'Super Eight' system for the top 16 rugby countries

• A secondary World Cup involving 32 nations.

According to Wilkinson, the proposal is one of the most ambitious rugby plans proposed since the tournament was first introduced.

"If the sport is ever going to rival football then we must continue to make giant strides forward - and the RFU's plan should be applauded in all directions," he wrote.

"It is a brave bid and I have no doubt that such a tournament would increase the interest, intensity and standard of competition."

"The current set-up makes it possible for a country to win the World Cup, having faced just three of the world's top five teams," he added.

"The new system, however, would ensure that the best team has a far more difficult time of it. And that can only be good, both for the sport and the fans."