The UAE Conference kicks off Friday with this year’s competition wide open after Al Ain Amblers’ dominance was finally rewarded with promotion.

Relegated from the Premiership in what was a tumultuous campaign both on and off the field, Dubai Wasps will be the team with a target on their backs.

It is, though, a new era at Wasps, who have dropped the Xodus from their name and also have a new head coach in Mike Pugsley. The 30-year-old Welshman is aiming to take the club in a very new direction.

– UAE Premiership preview: AD lead the way
– Parisse: Italy ‘must-win’ final group games
– Matt Burke: Australia need to play as a unit
– RWC2015 Diary: Brighton at home as hosts

“We’ll be starting from scratch, new plays, new moves, new everything,” said the former Sharjah Wanderers man.

“I’ve been impressed with the boys, especially their attitude. They’re keen and have worked hard.

“There’s talent in the squad. I don’t see why we won’t compete. We’ll have a decent squad and competition for places will be tight.”

After a trying season, Pugsley knows that honesty and variety is key.

“The first thing I said when I arrived was that we need to instil honesty to be successful,” he said.

“I’ll be honest with them if they can be honest with themselves and me.

“Last year boys got bored. Hopefully I can bring new ideas and innovation to training, modernise the game, but keep that level of intensity we’re going to need and provide that level of structure and game plan that will allow us to be successful.”

Jebel Ali Dragons 2nds, beaten in the Conference’s Top 6 final by Amblers, will also hope to be in the mix, along with Heartbeat Tigers, Dubai Hurricanes 2nds, Sharjah and Arabian Knights, all of whom finished in the top half of the Conference table and competed in the Top 6.

One team also hoping to muscle in are Dubai Sharks, who finished eighth last year before going on to lose the Plate final of the Bottom 6 to Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2nds.

The club with the motto ‘serious rugby, seriously social’ are taking their rugby a little more seriously these days.

New joint head coach Dan Gawn said: “Sharks started off very social. We’ve moved on from that. We still have great fun and are very social, but we train first, play, then have the social.

“There was a time when players would mix social with playing. We can’t do that. We’ve got to be dedicated. An improvement on last year is what we’re looking for. We certainly can’t go backwards.”