Parks struggled to establish himself at Perpignan last season

"The Stade Aime Giral is one of the best places to play rugby, the fans are amazing," he told BBC Wales' Scrum V.

"I've played at Pontypridd, Leeds and the Dragons and the fans have been great, but the Catalans are loudest.

"I'm thoroughly excited to return, it's a fantastic rugby environment. We have a lot of youngsters in our side, but I'm sure that they'll step up to it."

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606: DEBATE The Dragons clearly have no hope Scrum V's Rick O'Shea

Thirty-year-old Parks, who has four Wales caps, insists he has nothing to prove to his former employers, despite struggling to establish himself in the Perpignan side last year.

"That's not my focus," he said. "I want to prove myself to my new team-mates and coach, it's a fantastic tournament and I want to measure myself against the best in the world.

"A lot has changed at Perpignan since last year in terms of the coaching set-up and the playing staff.

I've been making a few phone calls, and if we win I'll know where to celebrate in Perpignan! Richard Parks

"In many ways they're an unknown quantity, but they always bring certain things - an intense, physical and fast approach that continues for 90 minutes.

"They haven't had the greatest start to the French league, so that will add to their motivation.

"A lot of people have written us off, but we've had great preparation against the likes of Wasps and Newcastle. We competed physically and opened people's eyes.

"Perpignan and London Irish will be targeting us and Benetton Treviso, but we work well as underdogs.