Following the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the key revelations emerging from the games.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured multiple impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the title this year. However, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side boasting 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 second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been better equipped to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend creative spark – earning the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at a distance when they threatened a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the roster, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase a year ago was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important five points.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, conversely, dealt a hefty blow to Sale.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to have a long run in the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
