Former All Black Nick Evans starred as Harlequins got the revamped European Rugby Champions Cup season underway on Friday with a 25-9 win over French side Castres.

The two sides were level 3-3 at the break after a penalty each from Castres’ South African-born Rory Kockott and five-eighth Evans for London club Quins.

In the second half Evans, who won 16 caps for New Zealand, went on to add a further half dozen penalties, and set up England halfback Danny Care’s try, which he duly converted to give him 20 points for the match.

Two-time reigning champions Toulon begin the defence of their European crown at home to Scarlets on Sunday, while last year’s beaten finalists Saracens entertain French heavyweights Clermont in the revamped competition on Saturday.

Now known as the European Champions Cup, the tournament has been pared down to 20 teams (seven English, six French, three Irish, two Welsh, one Scottish and one Italian) in five pools, the product of more than two years of political wrangling between the English, French and Celtic nations.

Only the five pool winners and the three best pool runners-up will qualify for the knock-out stage.