With the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's elite division. But, the initial stage featured several impressive wins from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the edges stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in Europe came almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry creative spark – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad throughout the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and top domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
There are strong teams in every pool, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance 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 Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to have a long run in the event, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
