With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations 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. Yet, the first weekend included several convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
But, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
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 Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
In doing so, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
