By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Canberra

Canada coach David Clark has called on his England counterpart, Clive Woodward, and New Zealand's John Mitchell to take up the case of rugby's second-tier nations and use their influence to help save the world game.

The former Queensland representative is frustrated at being the lone voice in pleading for the International Rugby Board to provide his adopted country with some meaningful competition.

Clark believes that unless the Pacific Rim Championship is resurrected and revamped, rugby in places like Canada, America or the Pacific Islands will struggle.

"Argentina should be directed to play in it, as should Australia A," he said.

"You get Argentina, Australia A, USA, Canada, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - that's a damn good championship.

"That's the sort of thing we need year in year out, and maybe get to a situation where we can play our players in a semi-professional way and we can tour these countries.

"We need to get the experience - of playing Argentina, against Australia A, the adventure and flair of the islanders - if we don't get that, we just get further behind and the big boys just get up."

But asked whether Clark had approached, or will have the chance to approach, the IRB during the World Cup to make the proposal, he said: "Why me? Why not someone like John Mitchell or Clive Woodward who have got a bit more clout than me?"

Clark did have an ally in Italy coach John Kirwan, who described the future of rugby in the second-tier nations as one of the IRB's most important challenges.

"If global rugby is going to be strong at the next World Cup then sides like Canada need to be playing in important competitions," said Kirwan.

"I think global rugby has many challenges and I think one of them is to make sure that in two or three World Cups, teams like Canada are competing and playing in the final.

"I think the IRB needs to understand the important of tournaments like the Six Nations, the Tri-Nations so teams likes Canada, Japan and America can keep improving."

Kirwan conceded his side's Six Nations experience had enabled them to hold out in the face of a fierce Canadian onslaught to clinch a narrow 19-14 victory.

"I think the Six Nations has given us the ability to win these tight ones," he said.

"We need to start having the attitude of a Six Nations side. We had a win this year against Wales.

"We have come here and won two wins so we are starting to put the performances together."

Kirwan praised the effort Clark and Canada, who bowed out of contention following their third defeat, had put into the tournament and stated their development outlined just how important regular, top-quality competition is.

"I think their performance over the World Cup has been progressive and when you play at this level, if you can get your side to improve, I think the coaching staff and the players have done their jobs," he said.