Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio reckons Harlequins can put the disappointments of last year behind them and conquer Europe's second tier this season.

Director of rugby Conor O'Shea's men kick-off their campaign at fancied Bayonne on Sunday having dispatched Newcastle Falcons 23-12 at the Stoop last week.

Quins struggled to cope with the fall-out from 'Bloodgate' last term and were dumped out of the Heineken Cup without winning a game having reached the quarter-finals the previous year.

They failed to secure a top six finish in the Aviva Premiership and have been drawn in the Amlin European Challenge Cup this time around.

Quins lifted the trophy in 2001 and 2004 before relegation to National Division and Dallaglio sees no reason why they can't repeat that success again.

“There is no doubt that Quins can take that leap this season and do well,” he said.

“They have a little bit of history in the competition – they have won it – and I'm sure they'll want to put the disappointment of last season behind them.

“The whole of rugby has hopefully turned the page on that chapter.”

Quins are one of six teams starting out in the Amlin Cup this weekend, including Gloucester, Sale Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons.

The Premiership has provided eight of the last 10 winners of the competition and Ham-based Dallaglio, an Amlin rugby ambassador, reckons English clubs can dominate again this year.

“When you look at the history of the Amlin Challenge Cup, almost 99 per cent of the teams to have won it are English,” he said.

“There have to be reasons for that and it's down to strength in depth and the way English clubs approach the competition.

“You can't discount Bayonne and Montpellier, but with the likes of Harlequins and Sale involved, I'm fully expecting an English club to reach the final, if not two.

“Newcastle are very familiar with this competition and will be happy to start with a home game. They are a force up there and you have a great chance of progressing in Europe if you win your home games.”