Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the primary lessons emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all representing France's top flight. However, the first weekend showcased several convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more prepared to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth across the team, they are surely genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage a year ago came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said 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 Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
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 many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 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 take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their ambition, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
