Now that the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we explore the major talking points stemming from the weekend's action.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured multiple impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the edges stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into Europe – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they threatened a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth across the roster, they are surely credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year occurred in the second round, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a Premiership title in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
There are quality outfits in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, 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 first day might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered 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 managed to make it out of the group stage, with several weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to have a long run in the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
