With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. But, the opening round featured multiple convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title this year. But, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring 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 opponent.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The current English champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They blend attacking verve – securing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their guests at arm's length when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the team, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools last season occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy to their name and leading the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains quality outfits throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
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 bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, 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 bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with often rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
