Now that the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all representing France's elite division. However, the opening round featured multiple statement victories from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment this season. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost three decades 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 in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit 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 among the leaders in the URC.
They blend creative spark – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their visitors at bay when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season came in the second round, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and leading the home league, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
There are powerful sides in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second period gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides became part of 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 weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to progress far in the event, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
