Following the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's top flight. But, the initial stage featured multiple convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing another trophy with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the edges is a threat against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – especially after a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They combine offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at arm's length when they threatened a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the team, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase a year ago was in the second round, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and leading the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but their section seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points 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 significant early boost and, conversely, handed a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring 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 Look Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with often rotated sides used.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
