With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all hailing from France's Top 14. However, the initial stage included a number of impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment now. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving another trophy with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup came almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they threatened a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools the previous year occurred in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
You will find quality outfits throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious five points.
By achieving this, they provided their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with several rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved expressing their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
