Following the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. But, the first weekend featured several convincing performances from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the wings is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more prepared to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend creative spark – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential 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 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were ambushed and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them was able to progress out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with players and coaches speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to have a long run in the tournament, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
