With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the key revelations emerging from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. However, the opening round showcased a number of convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment now. But, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with those two on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league 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 team looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – earning the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at bay when they attempted a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth across the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but the first group appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
By achieving this, they provided their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, dealt a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would predict to be challenging at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams used.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses 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 a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
