The Investec Champions Cup, European rugby's premier club competition, is facing a distinctly Gallic reality. For five consecutive seasons, the trophy has remained in France, with Bordeaux-Bègles the latest to claim the crown after a 28-20 victory over Northampton Saints in last season's final. This unprecedented run of success for the Top 14 has shifted the tournament's balance of power dramatically.
A Shift in the European Landscape
This era of French supremacy marks a stark contrast to previous cycles of dominance. Between 2006 and 2012, Irish provinces Munster and Leinster claimed five titles, with the tournament's very headquarters based in Dublin. Today, the administrative base may be in Switzerland, but the on-field authority is unquestionably French. Since 2021, not only has the Champions Cup stayed in France, but the secondary Challenge Cup has also crossed the Channel three times in that period.
The question for the new campaign, which culminates in a final in Bilbao just 120 kilometres from the French border, is whether any club can disrupt this pattern. The early indications suggest it will be a monumental challenge. The form of many traditional contenders is concerning. Leinster sit sixth in the United Rugby Championship (URC), while English giants Saracens, Sale Sharks, Harlequins, and Gloucester are all in the bottom half of the Premiership table.
The Contenders and the Crucial Opening Rounds
Realistically, this pares down the list of potential champions to a handful of non-French sides. The DHL Stormers, URC leaders, possess the quality, while Leinster, Munster, Bath, and Saracens have the squad depth to compete. However, their ambitions hinge on securing positive results in the notoriously difficult opening pool stages, where fast starts are paramount.
The competition format rewards early momentum. A top-four seeding, as demonstrated by Bordeaux and Northampton last year, smooths the path to the latter stages. A top-two finish guarantees home-country advantage right through to the semi-finals. This puts immediate pressure on contenders. Bath, the English champions, face a critical home fixture against Munster before daunting trips to Toulon and Castres. Similarly, last year's runners-up Northampton have little room for error in their opening games away to Pau and at home to the Bulls.
The French Challenge: Depth and Danger
The scale of the task is underscored by the strength of the French contingent. Five of the current Top 14 top six are in the competition, including the bookmakers' favourites, Toulouse. Yet the threat is not limited to the usual suspects. Clubs like Pau, who have already beaten Toulouse and Bordeaux domestically this season, embody the depth of French rugby. Under the guidance of former Exeter champion Joe Simmonds, Pau play an expansive, threatening style.
This season also presents key tests for other hopefuls. Bristol Bears must prove their flashy style has substance in Europe, while Saracens face a brutal schedule featuring trips to Durban and Glasgow before hosting Toulouse in a round-three clash that could define the Anglo-French gap. The prospect of Antoine Dupont facing Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje in north London in January is a tantalising benchmark fixture.
Unless a significant twist emerges, the narrative points towards another French celebration in Bilbao. The last non-French winner was Exeter Chiefs, who defeated Racing 92 in 2020. For Leinster, whose last triumph was in Bilbao over seven years ago, and for every other challenger, the recipe to stop France's grands chefs requires a perfect blend of early results, squad management, and away-day courage. The quest to break the streak begins now.
