With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the major talking points highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. But, the initial stage included a number of convincing performances from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the title this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of winning back-to-back titles with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting stars 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 showed their quality in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against any competition.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back 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 top of the pile at home after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at arm's length when they threatened a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the roster, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a league trophy to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory 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 during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, handed a hefty blow to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength selected.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks 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 competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
