🔗 Share this article

Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.

French dominance has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's top flight. Yet, the opening round included several convincing performances from potential contenders.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.

Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of securing back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.

Given a challenging fixture 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 the interval.

But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second period, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title

Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been better equipped to win it again.

The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.

Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.

They blend attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at bay when they attempted a dramatic comeback.

With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth all over the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the group stage last season came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.

Having secured a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start

You will find powerful sides in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most competitive.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.

The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.

In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to the Sharks.

With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?

When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

However in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.

This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?

Stormers Look Ready to Step Up

Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.

Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.

The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in 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 Deliver a Memorable Match

There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.

Pau have been enjoying a outstanding season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

They are currently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's