With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's Top 14. But, the opening round included several impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend attacking verve – securing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves across the team, they must be viewed as credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title to their name and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
By achieving this, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the French giants – 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 as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in years to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to go deep into the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
