Former England international Lawrence Dallaglio has affirmed that Bath Rugby continue to set the standard for English teams in the Investec Champions Cup as the new season approaches. Speaking ahead of the competition’s restart, Dallaglio reflected on Bath’s strong showing last season, particularly their semi-final encounter with eventual champions Bordeaux.
Exeter Chiefs were the last English club to claim the European title in 2020. Since then, French teams have dominated by winning the trophy each year. Last term, Bath, under coach Johann van Graan, advanced furthest among the Premiership clubs but were narrowly defeated by Bordeaux in the semi-finals.
Dallaglio said, “Among the English sides, I thought Bath matched Bordeaux in that semi-final. There were just a few moments where they didn’t quite seize their opportunities. Many would have expected Bath to progress given how competitive they were in that match, so I still consider them the flag-bearers for English rugby.”
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Discussing other English contenders, Dallaglio noted the progress of Northampton, observing that their coaching and playing personnel have demonstrated they can mount a sustained European challenge. He also mentioned Saracens, stating they appear rejuvenated under Brendan Venter’s guidance, poised to be formidable opponents.
The upcoming Investec Champions Cup season will kick off earlier than usual, with Bath opening their campaign against French club Montpellier at The Rec on 17 October. A change in qualification format means only the top three teams from each pool will automatically advance to the last 16, with the remaining places filled by the highest-scoring teams regardless of pool.
Additionally, the bonus-point system has been revised. Teams will now earn a bonus point only if they score at least three more tries than their opponents, rather than the previous threshold of four tries scored. This adjustment reflects the system used in France’s Top14 and is designed to encourage balanced attacking and defensive performance throughout matches.
Dallaglio welcomed these changes, commenting, “Starting in October is beneficial as it precedes the Nations Cup and ensures international players are available for the early rounds. I also appreciate the updated bonus-point rule which maintains competitive intensity on both offence and defence for the entire match. Overall, these adjustments are positive steps for the European competition. Let’s see if English teams can challenge the French dominance this season.”
Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the commentary team for Premier Sports, which will broadcast every match of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup live throughout the season.