Back row Luke Wallace has admitted a club like Quins must be in the European Cup, writes Stuart Amos.

Quins look set to miss out on a top four place for the first time since 2011 after a 17-13 defeat at Northampton Sainst last Friday.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men have been overtaken by the likes of Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks and Bath in the race to qualifiy for next year’s European Cup.

They are ninth in the table and host 10th place London Irish in a crunch clash at the Stoop tomorrow.

“I don’t know if mathematically we are already out of the race for the top four, but the top six still has to be our goal,” said Wallace, who is preparing to make his 100th appearance for the club this week. 

“A club like this has to be in the top European competition, it’s good for us to have something to aim for.”

He added: “The whole middle to bottom group of teams have really stepped up this season and you can see that by the spread, everything is so close.”