UAERF want to enforce promotion from second-tier Conference for ‘more competitive rugby’

Gabby Couzens, the administrative manager for the UAERF, said the federation want promotion from the Conference to be a “must” – assuming it is not won by the second team of a Premiership club, writes Paul Radley.

Jebel Ali Dragons II take on Sharjah Wanderers in the finals of the UAE Conference at the Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club on 25 March, 2016. Navin Khianey for The National

DUBAI // The UAE Rugby Federation hope to be able to enforce promotion and relegation between the top two divisions from this season onwards.

Until now, sides who have topped the second-tier Conference have been given the option of staying in that division, or moving up to a higher level of competition in the Premiership.

For example, the current champions Sharjah Wanderers have chosen to remain where they are for the new campaign, which starts next month.

Wanderers, who won the last Conference final against Jebel Ali Dragons’ second XV in the final play of the season in March, are happy to consolidate the progress they have made as a club in the more forgiving climes of the second tier.

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Gabby Couzens, the administrative manager for the UAERF, said the federation want promotion from the Conference to be a “must” – assuming it is not won by the second team of a Premiership club.

“Every season the clubs are asking for more competitive rugby,” Couzens said.

“The level of play in the Premiership has gone up, and the level of play in the Conference is now at the level the Premiership used to be at. Everything is constantly developing.”

Promotion has had varied consequences for different clubs in recent years. Al Ain Amblers were encouraged to accept elevation after dominating the Conference, but failed to make a significant impact upon going up.

Dubai Wasps accepted promotion at an early point in their club’s existence, but subsequently struggled and are rebuilding in the Conference again.

By contrast, Abu Dhabi Saracens thrived after moving up to the top league, and were West Asia champions soon after.

The region’s flagship competition has been reformatted again for the new season. A cross-border league, involving Doha, Bahrain and the leading UAE clubs, will span the entire campaign.

The UAE’s top club will be decided on the results of matches between the sides within the West Asia Premiership.

The finals of that competition, the Conference and the Community league are scheduled to be played at the same venue, on the same day.

Apollo Perelini, the UAE coach, says he will only realistically consider players involved in the Premiership for selection for the national team.

Given that top-flight sides often have outstanding players who are new to the country, and thus not eligible for UAE selection, the representative side has often included many Conference players in the past.

“It will be very, very hard for anybody playing outside the Premiership to make the UAE team, because of the big disparity between the Conference and Premiership competitions,” Perelini said.

“For anyone who would like to represent the UAE, they have to be playing Premiership.

“The quality is a lot stronger, the standard of the teams is a lot higher, and a lot of the top players are becoming eligible.”

The fixtures for the West Asia Champions League, the season’s curtain-raising competition, are set to be announced next week.

Dubai Exiles, the UAE Premiership and West Asia double-winners, Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Kandy, the Sri Lankan champions, are the three confirmed teams playing in it.

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