Evans: Claimed 20-point haul in Saturday's final

But Quins' first Aviva Premiership title is certain to make it fade a little further.

Three years after the London club - in Evans' words - "basically imploded," they were crowned English champions to continue an impressive revival led by rugby director Conor O'Shea.

New Zealander Evans was the player then Quins boss Dean Richards wanted to put back on the field in an attempt to win a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.

Evans, Quins' goalkicker and consistent matchwinner, had earlier gone off injured, but Richards orchestrated the biting of a fake blood capsule by wing Tom Williams which sparked an unprecedented chain of events.

It ended with Richards receiving a three-year worldwide coaching ban, Williams serving a four-month suspension, Quins being fined £260,000 and the club's reputation being reduced to ruins.

"As far as we are concerned, it's gone," said fly-half Evans, whose 20-point haul helped Quins overcome Leicester to land the Premiership trophy.

"It was a tough time, and the club basically imploded, but the consistent thing was that no-one jumped ship.

"The core of the group stayed the same, which was the most important thing, and Conor has then regalvanised us.

"It is a tattoo that will always be there, but as far we are concerned it is gone."

Williams scored Quins' opening try of the final, and victory was a deserved reward given the club's Premiership dominance this season, accompanied by their refreshing emphasis on attacking rugby.

"I am absolutely delighted for everyone involved," Evans added.

"Winning the Amlin Cup final last season was a springboard for us in terms of finals, but we will now go into a different phase for the club next season.

"We are champions. We are no longer the Quins where we are the underdogs and we might pick up a win away from home here or there.

"We are going to be expected to win games on a regular basis, and that will mean a different kind of mental approach for us.

"But as long as the core of the group stays together - as it has done for the past four years - we should hopefully be successful.

"Dean Richards laid the foundation with the young guys, and Conor has increased the professionalism. A lot of ownership is given to the players, and these young guys are learning to be leaders pretty quickly.

"To have nine guys from the club going to South Africa with England is pretty big.

"Apart from winning the trophy, the proudest I've been this season was seeing those nine guys selected for England, and young guys as well."

Evans' vast experience and consistent excellence has proved a telling factor behind Quins' resurgence, although his modesty prevents him from perhaps taking the full credit he deserves.

"I came up in New Zealand where if the guys at the back of the bus told you to do something, you did it. I wasn't in an academy or anything like that," he said.

"I had to graft away and earn respect from those older guys, and all you wanted to do was to be one of them.

"Maybe that kind of mentality has helped a little bit during my time at Quins."