It was the French who caught the eye in round one with six of their eight teams winning, including Stade Rochelais and Toulon away from home.
Gloucester reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a 30-25 victory against Castres at Kingsholm.
Gloucester reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a 30-25 victory against Castres at Kingsholm.
Stuart Hogg described Exeter’s 27-12 Heineken Champions Cup win in Castres as one of the “special nights”.
As the 20 clubs at European rugby's top table gear up for the opening round of this season's Champions Cup, RugbyPass checks out which players are likely to hit the ground running - and who'll be absent from French club ranks.
Budgets, players to watch, arrivals and departures - and an overview of each club at the start of the new season. Welcome to the Rugby Pass club-by-club Top 14 season preview
Castres coach and former Bristol player Joe El Abd has lifted the lid on his side’s stunning Top 14 triumph last season and revealed some of the secrets to their success.
Racing 92's continued their impressive home form against one of their Top 14 rivals
Montpellier and Castres recorded impressive victories to underline their top-six credentials in the Top 14.
