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With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.

Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all hailing from France's Top 14. But, the first weekend showcased a number of impressive wins from potential challengers.

Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the feat this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.

However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.

Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.

Formidable Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run

Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to add a second star.

The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.

Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the URC.

They marry offensive flair – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at a distance when they attempted a late rally.

With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves all over the team, they are surely genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.

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

After winning a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback

There are strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.

In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.

The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.

By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.

With Toulouse – 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 regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?

If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

But in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

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

This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge

Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams fielded.

Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.

The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the event, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match

There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.

Pau have been enjoying a outstanding season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.

They are presently runner-up in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's