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Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we examine the key revelations emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured several convincing performances from potential rivals.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning back-to-back titles with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.

However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.

France international machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup dates back almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to win it again.

The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure the previous season.

Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.

They combine attacking verve – securing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at a distance when they threatened a late rally.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.

Now with a league trophy under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow

You will find powerful sides in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

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

The team from Scotland 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 valuable maximum haul.

With this result, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to Sale.

With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in recent memory to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.

Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?

Should you pick one side you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

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

It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.

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

Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Look Equipped to Compete

Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength selected.

Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the event, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did face formidable opponents respectively.

The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter

There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.

Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

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