Martin Lawrence is aiming for promotion in his new role as Horsham coach.

But you get the impression that, if the Coolhurst outfit come up short, he will be able to put matters into perspective.

The 42-year-old Kiwi has a military background, just like his predecessor Jim Maskell. Add to that a wife who works for the Foreign Office and you have a couple who are likely to see the world.

Lawrence was born in New Zealand, shortly after his parents had emigrated from Sussex in 1958.

He played his rugby Down Under, then lived in the Falkland Islands before his most recent port of call in Islamabad.

Not the sort of place you would want to be for a pleasant game of rugby at the moment and Lawrence admits he is glad to be in tranquil Sussex.

But he insisted: "It's not as bad as you would think from watching the news.

"I coached a local club and played for Karachi in the Dubai Sevens. It was the first time they had sent a team there and they did all right.

"You could get two XVs out of Islamabad, one from Lahore and another from Karachi. They played a lot of sevens and ten-a-sides as well.

"They were keen. I took them for training up to three times a week. There were people there who had watched games on television or been to England.

"They play international games there as well."

Horsham promises to be quite contrast but a welcome one and another big rugby challenge.

The Coolhurst club restored a lot of pride last season by finishing third in the table with 13 wins from 18 games.

Now, with the likes of Simon Matterface and Richard Billings back on board and big Rob Dowling joining them from Crawley, they are targeting a serious promotion push.

Lawrence, whose competitive debut as coach ended in a hard fought 20-18 win over four South East new boys Uckfield in the Intermediate Cup, said: "There is potential there.

"The club have got a lot of individual talent but we have got to develop together.

"We are certainly looking to improve on third place in the league"

Competition will be stern for the one automatic promotion place and the play-off spot.

Hastings and Bexhill missed out in the play-off last season. They felt their defeat at Horsham cost them the title.

Chichester are also down in Sussex One but believe they can rectify that under the enthusiastic captaincy of 22-year-old Ben Polhill.

And don't rule out Heathfield, renowned as a stubborn outfit on their own undulating pitch but who shone away from home last week in knocking Brighton out of the cup.

Crowborough and Hellingly also had decent campaigns last time out.

It should ensure some tremendous contests on the parks of Sussex One in the new campaign. But don't expect that to worry the new man at Coolhurst.