Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the major talking points highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. But, the opening round included several impressive wins from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of winning back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they threatened a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the team, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago occurred in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with 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
You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, by contrast, dealt a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced 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 provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
