NEWPORT Gwent Dragons would have been content to leave Paris with a losing bonus point but instead they can allow themselves to dream of the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup after the most incredible of victories.

The Dragons didn't just sneak a win against French big guns Stade Francais, they hammered them by four tries to one.

The 38-22 success is up there with the region's greatest wins and it was an incredible turnaround by a side that has spluttered in the Guinness Pro12.

Gone was the error-ridden attack from embarrassing defeats to the Scarlets and Edinburgh. The Dragons played with panache at the magnificent Stade Jean Bouin, going after their hosts with confidence and an ambitious approach.

The win was as inspiring as the first six weeks of the season have been deflating.

It was a real team effort with everybody playing their part in an accurate display but glasses of vin rouge would have been raised to half-backs Richie Rees and Angus O'Brien for the way that they pulled the strings.

Rees scored a try and managed the game superbly while the 20-year-old novice fly-half played like a veteran in the final quarter, pinning Stade Francais back in their half a la Ronan O'Gara in his pomp.

Yet the Dragons had to show real character to record only their second ever victory on French soil – it certainly didn't look like there would be an upset when Stade Francais led 12-3 approaching the half hour with the visitors down to 14 after loosehead Boris Stankovich's yellow card for a high tackle.

It seemed the home pack, formidable even without the rested Sergio Parisse and Pascal Pape, would enable unerring fly-half Vincent Mallet to boot them to an even more commanding lead but instead the Dragons struck for a pair of tries to win the sin-bin period 12-3 and go into half-time on level terms.

Suddenly belief soared and they didn't look back.

It was a performance that shows what the Dragons are capable of and now the challenge is to repeat it in the Pro12.

But first they welcome Newcastle, who thrashed Bucharest, to Rodney Parade on Friday and another European win would put them in great shape for the quarters given that the five group winners and three runners-up qualify.

Stade may have rested a number of big guns but their mammoth budget meant they still boasted a strong side of players determined to force their way into the Top 14 squad and protect their perfect home record in 2014/15.

Yet they were outplayed by the Dragons despite a fourth-minute blow when Andrew Coombs was taken out a lineout – it earned three points but cost them the services of the Wales lock with a knee injury.

It looked ominous when Stade Francais earned a 12-3 lead after 25 minutes thanks to Mallet, who ruthlessly punished the visitors' indiscipline.

But then came the Stankovich yellow card, a moment that looked likely to lead to the Frenchmen putting the game to bed but instead served to give the Dragons a shot in the arm.

First Rees sniped over from a ruck after impressive contributions by lock Rynard Landman and centre Tom Prydie had moved them into the 22.

O'Brien smashed the conversion against the pink left upright – his only miss of the night – but he was soon adding the extras to a well-worked try by hooker Rhys Thomas after wing Matthew Pewtner's strong burst into the 22 and Ashley Smith's delightful pass to the right wing.

From 12-3 down they were 15-12 up and although Mallet slotted a leveller before the break, the Dragons suddenly knew they could hurt Stade with ball in hand.

And eight minutes into the second half they grabbed the key score through Hallam Amos.

Flanker Lewis Evans rose to steal a lineout and the Wales wing reacted swiftly, cutting a lovely line off Rees and bursting through a weak tackle before racing past Stade speedster Krisnan Inu for a super 40-metre try.

O'Brien added the extras and then another penalty on 54 minutes for a 25-15 lead but then the hosts struck to make it clear that the region would have it easy, centre Herman Meyer Bosman powering over from close range after the forwards had hammered away at the line.

South Africa international Morne Steyn converted but O'Brien eased the nerves with a penalty earned at the scrum to make it 28-22 and then the young fly-half showed great maturity to pin Stade back.

The hosts never got within striking distance and the win was secured when he bisected the posts in the 75th minute.

But the Dragons weren't content with four points and the most unlikely of bonus point victories came when a patient attack ended with an opportunistic try by openside flanker Nic Cudd after he spotted a gap to reach over from the ruck.

Now the hard work starts to ensure that it is a glorious night that sparks their season into life.

Stade Francais: B Dumas (J Sinzelle 65), K Inu, G Doumayrou, H Bosman, D Ioane, V Mallet (M Steyn 47), J Fillol (J Tomas 63), Z Zhvania (B Dumas 71), R Bonfils (captain, A Oleon 47), D Kubriashvili (S Chellat 47), H Pyle, P Gabrillagues (J Nibert 61), M Ugena, M De Giovanni, N Garrault.

Scorers: try – H Bosman; conversion – M Steyn; penalties – V Mallet (5)

Dragons: L Byrne (captain), M Pewtner, T Prydie, A Smith, H Amos, A O'Brien, R Rees, B Stankovich (O Evans 48), R Thomas (E Dee 58), L Fairbrother (D Way 48), A Coombs (J Thomas 4, A Powell 52), R Landman, L Evans (O Evans 32-36), N Cudd, T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – R Rees, R Thomas, H Amos, N Cudd; conversions – A O'Brien (3); penalties – A O'Brien (4)

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)