With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points stemming from the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. But, the opening round showcased several impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe last season, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the feat this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the edges has a chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at arm's length when they attempted a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth across the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools the previous year occurred in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a league trophy in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
You will find strong teams throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they provided their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved talking about their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
