The European champions – who have been drawn at home to French side Lyon in the last 16 of this year’s competition – secured victory with late tries from Harry Williams and David Ewers after falling to a 20-7 deficit early in the second half.

Danny Care had given Quins a 14th minute lead before Exeter scrum-half Stuart Townsend levelled the scoring on 22 minutes. A Marcus Smith penalty opened up a 10-7 lead at the break.

Hooker Scott Baldwin extended the lead seven minutes into the second period before Exeter produced their stunning comeback – punctuated by Ewers’ trip across the whitewash five minutes from time.

Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks – who face La Rochelle and Scarlets respectively when the Heineken Champions Cup returns – fell to defeats at the hands of Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints on Saturday afternoon.

Edinburgh Rugby also earned a one-point victory in dramatic fashion in the Guinness PRO14 as they overcame Connacht Rugby 15-14 in Galway.

Fly-half Nathan Chamberlain was the star of the show for the Scottish outfit as he scored 10 Edinburgh points in the final 11 minutes to secure victory – including a last-gasp try and conversion.

Edinburgh face a tough ask in the last 16 for Europe’s premier club competition as they travel to last season’s beaten finalists Racing 92, who are eager to go one better this time.

Heineken Champions Cup winners Exeter Chiefs closed the gap on Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol Bears with a narrow 21-20 over third-place Harlequins.