The Northampton centre was part of a Saints side who enjoyed great runs in Europe reaching the semi-finals in 2024 and the final in 2025.
They fell short in that showpiece game in Cardiff, beaten 28-20 by Bordeaux-Begles, and last season bowed out 43-41 to Bath in the last eight.
The last two defeats still sting Dingwall with the Bath one coming after Saints were sunk by Ted Hill’s late try despite being 21 points in front at one stage.
European adventure
With Cardiff their opponents next Sunday, Dingwall is desperate for another European adventure after racking up away wins in Limerick, Dublin, Pretoria and Glasgow in recent campaigns.
Saints club captain Dingwall said: “It’s incredibly hard to win it because so few teams do it, and look at Bordeaux when they did win it last year they didn’t make their play-offs in their league.
“Obviously, it is a huge challenge, but it is something we got close to a couple of years ago.
“We were having a good run but still have the regret of last year in mind.
“It’s a chance to play teams you don’t often play, in places you don’t normally get to play in big occasions.
“It is highest level of club rugby you can get to.
“It’s all about making new memories, we’ve been fortunate enough to have a good go at that and make some cool ones in recent times.
“We will have the same outlook. No pressure on it, but we want to have a good go at it and enjoy ourselves in that competition.
“You want to challenge yourself against the best and have a real crack at it, and that’s something that we’ve really enjoyed doing.”
Aiming high: Fraser Dingwall on the attack for Northampton Saints Format criticism
The tournament format has attracted criticism with the chopping of the home and away pool game format in the days of Covid.
This season there have been changes in the bonus point system with sides only winning one if they score three tries or more than their opponents, like the Top 14.
And there is a rejig of the qualifying format with the top three teams from each of the four pools making the last 16, then the last four spots given on the basis of table points, irrespective of what group the sides come from.
That makes it almost impossible for teams to win only once and make the knockouts and that is where the business starts for Dingwall as Saints set their sights on a final spot in Lyon next May.
He added: “When you get to those knockout rounds, it’s as prestigious as it’s always been.
“Obviously, the group stages are slightly different in how they’re formatted.
“To have played in a European final was pretty special. I know we didn’t come out with the right result.
“But that whole experience, that whole run of the competition was incredible. It’s something I would love to do again.”
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