England's blueprint for a new-look for rugby World Cup in 2007 has been "well received" during a global tour by a RFU delegates.

The proposal sees a 16-team World Cup, with a 32-team inaugural World Nations Cup for emerging countries running in tandem.

The delegation has already made presentations in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. Next stop is Japan on Monday, with home unions Scotland, Wales and Ireland getting a first-hand glimpse of the bid next week.

France are also pitching to host the 2007 World Cup and the International Rugby Board is expected to make its decision by April.

But RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: "To date, the overall concept of the parallel tournaments within our preferred option has been well received. Three recurring themes have arisen from our discussions, regarding the June/July window, the number of teams taking part in the Rugby World Nations Cup and pitch sizes.

"It is important to point out that the June/July option was one of two windows offered to the bidding unions by the IRB from the tender document. Ultimately, if we were successful with our bid and the IRB preferred an alternative time frame, we would accept that.

"There has been some debate over the Rugby World Nations Cup and, while the concept has been welcomed, there have been some suggestions that 16 teams should take part and not 32. However, our preference continues to be a 32-team tournament, in order to maximise global benefit.

"We have reassured each of the unions we have visited, that the pitch sizes of all 16 of the grounds we propose to use for the World Cup conform to IRB standards."