With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the major talking points highlighted by the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the opening round showcased a number of impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the feat this year. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the flanks is a threat against any competition.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend creative spark – securing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their opponents at a distance when they threatened a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the squad, they have to be considered serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year occurred in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
With this result, they handed their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 mauling 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 key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year not a single one was able to progress out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a outstanding season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
