Former Harlequins fly-half Adrian Jarvis insists he has no regrets over his move to relegated Bristol and believes the club can match his former employers’ successful return to the top flight.

The 25-year-old number ten played a part in the club’s National Division One winning side and then stood in for the injured Andrew Mehrtens as director of rugby Dean Richards’ men consolidated in the Guinness Premiership the following season.

The former Wellington School student quit the Stoop last summer for the west country and while Quins were busy finishing second in the table and reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, Bristol endured an unsuccessful battle against the drop.

Jarvis’ side start the coming campaign as favourites to win the re-structured Championship and bounce straight back at the first attempt, with the playmaker - an England Saxon 12 months ago - admitting it is a big year for him.

And he is confident memories of 2006 can help him and Bristol can recapture past glories and a place at the European top table themselves.

“The clubs have gone in different directions, but I’m not upset I left Quins. I’ve enjoyed myself massively here,” he said.

“It is a different pace of life - there is less traffic for a start - and it has been great just being in a different playing environment with new people. I’m pleased I did it.

“I need a good season for the club and for myself. Hopefully it is a chance for the whole club to rebuild and be a stronger place for it.

“It was a hard year last year having got ourselves into such a bad position. It seemed futile at stages.

“When you look at where Quins are now, there are a lot of lessons we can learn. It is a good blue print to follow and there is no reason why we can’t do something similar.”

The 12-team Championship - which will feature a fully professional London Welsh outfit - has been completely overhauled, with the top eight clubs entering the play-offs for promotion.

It means the opening months of the campaign will be little more than pre-season friendlies as club’s bid to hit on a settled side in preparation for the business end of the season.

Jarvis reckons it is a bit of a step into the unknown, but could give a number of players the same opportunity he had having graduated from the Quins academy.

“We’ve got a young squad and it is up to the older ones to bring them and the team through. There will be plenty of chances and the younger players have to take them,” he added.

“I think you will see most teams swapping and changing their line-ups early on to hit on their best combinations. It will be Christmas time when everyone knuckles down to things.

“The play-offs are the important part. We are the favourites, but one bad game and you could see the whole season go to waste.”