With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points highlighted by the games.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the opening round showcased several convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the feat this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
However, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad across the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a league trophy in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they provided their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
