Now that the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. However, the first weekend included multiple convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title this season. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
France international machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to win it again.
The current English champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their guests at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth throughout the squad, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year was in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title to their name and top in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, conversely, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their goals, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
