With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the key revelations emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all representing France's Top 14. But, the first weekend included a number of statement victories from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of achieving consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
But, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth across the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year came in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often weakened teams used.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved speaking of their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
