In countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, rugby is the most popular sport. It has plenty of fans worldwide and there’s no shortage of punters interested in rugby betting. Major bookies provide their members with a comprehensive selection of leagues and markets, so there’s no shortage of betting options. Our guide will help you make an informed decision when betting on this popular sport by teaching you how to bet on rugby intelligently.
Compared to football, which is immensely popular and straightforward, betting on rugby can pose unique challenges, especially for those who don’t know a great deal about the game. This is where we come in, providing educated advice that can help you stay ahead of the curve.
- When learning how to bet on sports, focus on mainstream markets and stick to the teams you know the best.
- Play the long game and don’t hesitate to bet on the outright winners of the leagues.
- Don’t bet too much on the favourites, and pay close attention to the underdogs.
Not sure where to bet? Get the best odds on Rugby with these top operators!
1.
Bet365 Sports Bonus
Bet £10 & Get £50
Highlights
- Exciting Bonus for new Customers
- Renowned and reputable Operator
- Beautiful and clearly structured Website
Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
2.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Bwin Sports Bonus
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Highlights
- Top £20 back up bet sports bonus
- Large Casino with live Games and Jackpots
- Live Streaming for some Markets
Min deposit £10, Max stake £10, Min Odds 1/1 (2.0); Max free bet £10; New players only
3.
Ladbrokes Sports Bonus
Bet £5 Get £20
Highlights
- Good design makes the website simple to use
- Excellent range of sports and betting markets
- Good mobile site and apps available for both iOS and Android
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
4.
Bet £10 get £40 in Bonuses
Betfred Sports Bonus
Bet £10 get £40 in Bonuses
Highlights
- Incredible 400% Welcome Bonus
- Wide Choice of Markets
- Clear and great structured Page
5.
NetBet Sports Bonus
£10 Free Bet
Highlights
- Fantastic new Customer Bonus
- User-friendly and well structured Site
- Over 1,000 different Sports Bets
- Selection of secure Payment Methods
New customers only. Deposit and place a bet of £10. Minimum odds 1/2 (1.50). Free Bet valid for 7 days. T&Cs apply
RUGBY PROVIDES ALL THE BETTING THRILLS YOU CAN TAKE!
As a punter, it is important to commit enough time to research before betting, so you have a proper understanding of the game and the betting options. It’s the same when learning how to bet on American football and how to bet on baseball. Rugby is a full contact sport with a tradition spanning over a century and its rules have changed slightly over the years; indeed, the game split into two different forms, union and league. In both forms, points are scored mainly through tries, but players can also score via drop goals and penalty kicks. While rugby league betting presents punters with plenty of opportunities, overall there are fewer matches compared to union, which is played in more countries.
Because the season is shorter than football and there are fewer professional teams, punters don’t have to worry about the paradox of too much choice. This means that one can take more time to learn how to bet on rugby and discovering more about the top teams. Only a few countries have professional rugby leagues, with the rest being made up of amateur clubs. Having said this, bookmakers offer ample coverage to matches played by both professional and amateur teams.
KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BETTING ON RUGBY
Mainstream punters dwell on football betting, but some are tempted to broaden their horizons and try other sports. Rugby betting is popular worldwide, but bettors tend to focus on the top rugby leagues and there’s a good reason why this happens. It’s much easier to get up to speed with the latest news regarding teams and their upcoming matches, which increases the odds of placing winning bets.
After you learn how to bet on rugby, the key thing to consider is how to evaluate the odds offered by different bookmakers. Reading match previews and taking a closer look at the head to head record definitely helps. It is particularly important to pay close attention to the injury list, the players doubtful ahead of matches and the roles they play on the field.
While it might sound like a cliché, focusing on the standard betting markets is the right thing to do when betting on any sports, including rugby. Savvy punters and veterans might be able to extract value from special markets, but this is where bookmakers usually enjoy the best house edge. It is always worth considering the odds of an underdog causing an upset, instead of blindly betting on the favourite. Don’t forget to make good use of spreads for rugby betting to mitigate the risks.
WITH INTERNATIONAL RUGBY THERE’S A BET OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE
Rugby can be a pretty intimidating sport for beginners, especially when betting on less prominent competitions. While it is possible to engage in rugby league betting for matches played in several nations, some championships stand out from the crowd. Australia, England and New Zealand have the strongest competitions and they are among the favourites at the World Cup. Compared to American football which is all about the NFL, rugby provides punters with multiple betting opportunities. Bookmakers allow their members to bet on both professional and amateur leagues, so there’s no shortage of betting options.
- Take the time to learn a great deal about a handful of teams and bet on them throughout the season.
- Seek value in odds above everything else and don’t hesitate to bet on less prominent matches when the odds are right.
- Consider the possibility of live betting on those matches that are too close to call before kickoff.
CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF RUGBY BETTING MARKETS
Similar to what we saw on our wrestling betting tips, Rugby betting doesn’t offer as many markets and wagering options as football does. At first, it can look a bit restrictive for new punters, but in the long run, most will agree that mainstream markets are the best. The house edge on exotic betting markets is almost always higher, so punters should take them with a pinch of salt and bet sensible amounts. On flagship competitions, high profile matches and derbies, one can consider betting on special events, but the most valuable markets are usually the standard ones.
MONEYLINE BETS
The odds of a match resulting in a draw are slim when it comes to rugby league betting, but punters can completely offset this risk. Moneyline bets are arguably the most popular ones because of their sheer simplicity which appeals to beginners and casual punters. They render the need to understand handicaps, points totals and other intricacies irrelevant and focus exclusively on the winning team. The downside of these bets is that bookies offer tiny odds on favourites, so there’s practically no value in backing them.
GAME TOTALS BETS
The second most popular type of rugby bet is on the total number of points scored. Over/Under bets are just as easy to understand and just as the name suggests, they focus on the combined number of points scored. It is possible to bet on the performance of individual teams and the lines differ based on the offensive prowess and defensive skills of the teams involved. This is a 50-50 bet, so punters should expect identical odds or at least odds that are of similar value. Depending on the bookmaker of choice, the odds can differ based on the house edge, but they generally revolve around 9/10 or 1.90.
SPREAD BETTING
When moneyline bets are not an option because of nonexistent value, punters should consider spread betting. This is also a 50-50 bet, but most bookmakers show a great deal of flexibility and offer alternative betting lines. Risk-averse punters can focus on narrow winning margins for the favourites, while those who seek the best return on investment can bet on wider spreads.
OUTRIGHT WINNERS
Some of the most exciting rugby league betting odds are offered by bookmakers to those who bet on the outright winners of major tournaments. In addition to rugby league, punters are presented with the possibility of betting on the winners of union’s Rugby World Cup or the Six Nations Championship. Throughout the competition, bookmakers will change the odds based on the current results and some will offer early cash out options on outstanding bets.
IN CONCLUSION – YOU’RE ALL SET FOR RUGBY BETTING SUCCESS
We like to believe that you have learned how to bet on rugby and you really enjoy the time spent wagering on its most important tournaments. Betting on this beautiful sport isn’t rocket science and by following the tips in this guide, you should be able to beat the odds. The rugby season is shorter than its football counterpart, but there are still plenty of betting opportunities and hundreds of teams to choose from. Remember to focus on a couple of teams that you know best and spend just as much time with research, as you spend money betting on their matches.
Bookmakers enjoy the best house edge on obscure markets, so as tempting as it might be, don’t dwell too much on exotic bets. Mainstream markets and classic rugby bets, such as the Moneyline, spread betting, over/under and outright winners yield better results in the long run. Do your due diligence and double-check the odds offered by several bookmakers, so you always have the choice of betting on top odds.
Above everything else, remember to exercise proper bankroll management and bet moderately. If you need further information, check out our rollover betting tips. Rugby betting should be fun first and foremost, so remember to always keep your gambling habits under control. Return to Betastic whenever you seek betting tips and complex strategies on popular other sports.
For more betting advice, make sure you visit our guides on how to bet on snooker and how to bet on volleyball.
