Abu Dhabi Saracens will debut in the Gulf Top Six this afternoon with neither the same captain nor chairman, who presided over the campaign to get them there, still at the helm.
Lele Tusitala, the former captain, was forced into retirement after suffering a second broken arm in the space of a year midway through the UAE Premiership season before Christmas.
The side he left still managed to secure qualification for the cross-border Top Six competition in his absence, after finishing ahead of Dubai Exiles in the UAE’s top division.
However, since then, the club’s proactive chairman, Steve Arnott, stepped down, leaving president and founder Dave Jackson in sole charge of administration.
After 35 years of active involvement in a sport which has most recently seen him help transform both Al Ain Amblers then Saracens into thriving clubs, Arnott will devote his weekends to sailing instead.
“Obviously, I wish the side all the best of luck and I will definitely be pitch-side for all their home games in the Gulf Top Six,” Arnott said. “We have parted on good terms and any home game on a Friday where there is not enough wind to sail, I will definitely be there.
“It is the first time in 35 years I won’t have an involvement in the game and it does feel strange.
“Midweeks are much quieter as I used to be pitch-side every Monday and Wednesday, and I don’t seem to be getting as many non-work related emails now.”
Arnott has overseen the club’s rise from start-up operation to Gulf Top Six qualifiers in the space of two-and-a-half seasons.
“He has been a great club chairman for us, but now he has different priorities,” Jackson said.
“Fortunately for us, he will not be lost to the club, as he will still be on the sidelines.”
Despite the upheaval, Dougie Steele, the new captain, believes his side are placed well to compete during their first campaign in the region’s elite competition.
“We had higher expectations than our results were showing at the start of the season,” said Steele, whose side entertain Bahrain at Al Ghazal Club on Friday.
“We had got some new players in and once we started to gel, the results started improving.
“We’re in a better place now than we were at the start of the season.”
pradley@thenational.ae