Rugby Betting – the Best Bookmakers for Rugby
The sport of rugby first appeared at an English boarding school in 1830. Within a few decades, it enjoyed massive popularity across the United Kingdom. And since the British Empire was alive and well in those days, the game was soon introduced to nations around the globe.
If you’ve never wagered on the sport, this article should serve as an introduction to wagering on rugby. We’ll cover the sometimes confusing differences between rugby league and rugby union, as well as examining the various bets that can be placed at world’s best rugby betting sites. Once you’ve finished reading, all you’ll need to do is open an account and start wagering on your favorite teams.
Our Top Recommended Rugby Betting Sites
The Most Common Rugby Bets
If you decide to bet on rugby league, here are some of the most popular options:
NRL – The top organization for rugby league clubs in Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Drawing large viewership and crowds, it is regarded as one of the most popular rugby competitions on the planet.
Super League – The main rugby league competition in Europe, it includes 13 English teams and one French team. Each team plays 27 games from February to September, and then an eight-team playoff occurs to determine the Grand Final champion.
Challenge Cup – A single-elimination tournament contested by teams from Britain, France, and Russia. It has been held annually since 1896, and it includes amateur, semi-pro, and professional teams.
Internationals – Games featuring national teams comprised of players from specific countries. Successful clubs advance to compete in the Rugby League World Cup.
Premiership – The top of the English rugby union system. Twelve teams compete each season, and it’s been around since 1987. The main objective is to qualify for the two most important club competitions: European Rugby Challenge Cup and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
European Challenge Cup – An annual rugby union competition featuring clubs from England, Wales, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Romania.
Heineken Cup – The top-tier competition for European rugby union teams. If a team fails to qualify for the Heineken Cup, they may play in the second-tier European Challenge Cup.
PRO12 – One of the three major rugby leagues in Europe, it’s an annual competition featuring clubs from Wales, Scotland, Italy, and Ireland. Leinster Rugby and the Ospreys of Swansea, Wales have enjoyed the most success with 4 titles each.
Six Nations – A rugby union competition held annually between six European national teams including Wales, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Italy. The winner of the tournament is usually referred to as the European Champions.
Super 15 – The biggest rugby union competition in the southern hemisphere. Matches are shown in over 40 countries and include competitors from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Internationals – Games played between national teams, often as a way to prepare and qualify for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Whether you’re betting on rugby league or rugby union, you’ll have the option of betting against the point spread or choosing from prop and future wagers. In some cases, you may also be able to enjoy live betting, which allows you to make split-second wagers while the game is underway.
Tips for Betting on Rugby
Venue : Home advantage is extremely important in rugby, a lot more so than in football. Players are often galvanised by their home support and respond in kind. Players often feel a sense of injustice if they are beaten at home. It's as if they have let their club and fans down. French teams in particular are extremely good at home. Toulon and Toulouse both boasting incredible home records. This can clearly be seen when looking at the odds on any given rugby match. The home team will often be given quite short odds. If that is the case maybe betting on the margin of victory is a better idea. Applying a handicap will always lengthen the odds.
The weather : The weather can have a massive effect on a rugby match. If it starts to rain, handling errors become a lot more common. Teams will be reluctant to go wide and move the ball quickly through the hands. A team with a good fly-half will be able to adapt to changing conditions. A number 10 should be able to manage a game and make important calls like a kick to the corner or a rubber kick to mix things up and keep the opposition guessing.
Tiredness/Injuries: Rugby is an incredibly physical sport, with many current doctors saying the injuries they are seeing are those similar to ones from car accidents. The strain put on the body is considerable. With players playing every week injuries are a regular occurence. This is where a large squad is essential. If Leigh Halfpenny gets injuried, for instance, Toulon know that Drew Mitchell or Delon Armitage can slot in. A bettor will need to know if there are any injuries before placing a bet.
International meetings: Unlike football international matches are frequently held on the same weekend as a league game. This forces coaches to used some of the squad players, if players of the first team are away on international duty.
A derby : When it comes to an intense derby, form goes out of the window. Players will often rise to the occasion and pull a performance out of the bag. Winning a derby can be as simple as putting in a massive hit in the opening minutes to motivate the crowd and team. Momentum is huge in derbies. If your team is on top and can capitalise on the dominance, that is crucial. Betting on a derby can be tough, but in-play betting is probably the way to go. As you watch the game one can get a sense of how it is going to end up.
Best Betting Sites by Sport Category
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