Lyle in action against Scotland.

By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Sydney

American rugby legend Dan Lyle is eager to become an administrator once his playing days are over.

As the debate over whether smaller nations should be allowed to compete in the World Cup intensifies following Namibia's record 142-0 mauling by Australia on Saturday, the former gridiron player is proof of the talent which lies beyond the established countries.

Lyle joined Bath in 1996 just three years after taking up the sport and remained at the Recreation Ground until this summer when he opted to join two-time Heineken Cup winners Leicester.

Although he does not officially become a Tiger until he returns home from World Cup duty, the 33-year-old is already making plans for the future - and that means trying to give something back to the sport which has provided him with so much.

"I have some ideas about the future of rugby in the States and I know there are people who want me to remain involved when my playing days are over," he said.

"Considering my background, it would be a shame if I didn't stay in the game - because I believe it has a big future in the USA."

Lyle is not talking about taking on the established American sports of baseball, basketball and gridiron - even soccer has not successfully managed that.

But with a population of 270million, the Kentucky-born back-row believes even a fraction of a percentage of that figure translates into a huge playing pool.

That is why he believes the International Rugby Board, who have committed themselves to helping the 15-man code in the South Sea Islands and Argentina already in the last month, should make North America a special case.

"If we could get just 300,000 people playing the game it would put the USA on a par with any other country in the world," he said.

"The IRB must start to look at North America as a single entity and see how they can advance the game in that region."

The USA have already done their bit for the present tournament, coming closest to recording a true shock with their one-point defeat to Fiji in Brisbane.

Mike Hercus' failed conversion was all that stood between the USA and a famous win - although they will be favourites to break their 10-match World Cup losing streak against Japan in Gosford on Monday.

"We have to be careful not to let ourselves get carried away by what happened against Fiji," warned Lyle, whose side round off their campaign against France in Wollongong next Friday.

"There were a lot of things we didn't do well in the game; yet we still took them to within a point. That might make some people believe we are better than we actually are."