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Champions Cup opens with statement performances
The 2025-26 Champions Cup kicked off over the weekend, delivering unexpected results and reaffirming the strength of traditional European powerhouses. While French clubs have dominated recent editions, early fixtures suggest a more competitive field this season.
Bath emerge as serious title contenders
Bath Rugby delivered one of the most convincing performances of the opening round, crushing Munster 40-14 at home. The English Premiership champions, who last won the tournament in 1998, demonstrated both attacking flair and defensive resilience. A bonus-point try secured within 20 minutes set the tone, while their defense stifled Munster's late comeback attempts.
Fly-half Finn Russell and scrum-half Ben Spencer orchestrated the victory, with head coach Johann van Graan's squad appearing more cohesive than in previous campaigns. After an early exit last season, Bath now look poised to mount a serious challenge for European glory.
Defending champions Bordeaux rally in South Africa
Reigning champions Bordeaux Bègles silenced doubts about their ability to retain the title with a dramatic 46-33 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria. Trailing 33-22 at halftime, Bordeaux dominated the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points. Wingers Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, both France internationals, contributed crucial tries, reinforcing their reputation as one of Europe's most potent attacking units.
The win marked Bordeaux's first away victory in South Africa since the country's teams joined the competition, signaling their intent to defend their crown.
Scottish sides stun rivals in opening fixtures
Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh produced standout performances, offering hope for Scottish rugby's European ambitions. Glasgow secured a hard-fought 28-20 bonus-point win at Sale Sharks, overcoming a 14-0 deficit to claim a vital away victory. Edinburgh, meanwhile, stunned three-time champions Toulon 33-20 in a commanding display.
Glasgow's Stafford McDowall marked his 100th appearance with a try, while Edinburgh's resurgence underlined their potential in a competitive Pool One that also includes Toulouse and Saracens.
Leinster's All Black experiment begins with victory
Leinster, four-time winners of the competition, opened their campaign with a 45-28 win over Harlequins. New Zealand fullback Rieko Ioane, making his debut, provided an assist, raising hopes that he could be the missing piece in Leinster's quest for a fifth title. The Irish side had faltered in the latter stages of recent tournaments, including a semi-final loss to Northampton Saints last season.
Ioane's impact will be closely watched as Leinster aim to reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2018.
South African sides show promise despite mixed results
The Stormers launched their campaign with a 26-17 win at Bayonne, positioning themselves as South Africa's best hope for a deep run. While the Bulls and Sharks suffered defeats to Bordeaux and Toulouse respectively, the Stormers' victory-achieved without key Springboks like Cobus Reinach and Damian Willemse-highlighted their depth.
No South African team has progressed beyond the quarter-finals since joining the competition, but this season could mark a turning point.
Pau and Northampton serve up thriller
Northampton Saints edged Pau 29-24 in one of the weekend's most entertaining matches. Pau, second in France's Top 14, brought an electric atmosphere to their first Champions Cup game in 25 years, with Argentina's Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa leading the charge. However, a late try from George Hendy secured victory for the Saints, who overcame a 20-minute numerical disadvantage.
"Pau are one hell of an outfit," said Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell after the game.
The result underscored Pau's potential as a dark horse, while Northampton's resilience marked them as a side capable of surprising the established elite.
Scarlets' near-miss highlights Welsh rugby's challenge
The Scarlets' return to the Champions Cup after a year's absence ended in a narrow 27-26 defeat to Bristol Bears. Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit's try proved decisive, but the Scarlets' spirited performance offered a glimmer of hope amid Welsh rugby's broader struggles. Their next fixture against Bordeaux will be a stern test of their progress.
