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 recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. But, the initial stage showcased several impressive wins from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the feat this year. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at arm's length when they attempted a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage a year ago was in the second round, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title to their name and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would expect to be challenging at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout 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 final piece to win the championship, but they were caught out and endured 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 registered a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the tournament, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
