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With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the weekend's action.

French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured multiple impressive wins from potential challengers.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.

Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including internationals 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 unleashed their power in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the break.

French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance

Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.

The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination last year.

Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.

They blend offensive flair – sealing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the team, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year was in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.

Having secured a Premiership title in their history and leading in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback

The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, 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 during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.

With this result, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to Sale.

With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.

And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.

Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?

When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.

But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites 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 hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.

This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.

Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge

From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams fielded.

Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.

The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.

The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.

Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter

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

Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.

They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's