With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. But, the opening round featured multiple impressive wins from new challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title this season. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more prepared to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They combine creative spark – securing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their guests at a distance when they attempted a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the squad, they must be viewed as credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools the previous year occurred in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides in every pool, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland 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 valuable five points.
In doing so, they provided their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance 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 Look Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and in the last campaign none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams selected.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff speaking of their ambition, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a SA franchise to progress far in the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
