Following the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent years, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the first weekend featured multiple impressive wins from new contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the feat this season. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment 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 half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad all over the team, they are surely credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year was in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side 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 all-important five points.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten 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 round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat 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 first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams selected.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
