Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we explore the major talking points stemming from the fixtures.
French dominance has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. However, the opening round showcased a number of impressive wins from new contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – sealing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the squad, they must be viewed as credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season came in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a league trophy in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a all-important maximum haul.
In doing so, they gave their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, in turn, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win 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 surprised and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut 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 Seem Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to have a long run in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a superb season, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
