Rugby Union Betting
Author: Josh Stewart
Last Updated: 1st March 2023
Table of Contents
Rugby Union has never been more popular with sports bettors as it is now. This is due to the increased television coverage and, in turn, the more attention put on the sport by betting traders. The calendar boasts some major events throughout the year, including the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, Premiership, Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup.
In our introduction to rugby union betting, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about gambling on the sport, from the markets available, how to use in-play betting, what promotions you should look out for, how to watch rugby through a live stream and how to gamble using your mobile. The more you know on modern rugby betting, the more chance there is of you landing a nice priced winner and becoming a profitable punter over the course of a season.
There are many ways to gamble on Rugby, including ante-post on title winners and top try scorers or on individual matches. When betting game by game it’s possible to get your cash down before the first whistle or bide your time and benefit from seeing how both teams have started by betting on the game in-play. More ways to bet means more ways to win and that strikes a chord with punters.
Markets – More Available Than Ever Before
When looking at the kind of markets you can expect to find on major rugby union competitions and markets, we’ll start with ante-post betting. Let’s take the Six Nations for example. It’s possible to bet on the winner of this trophy well in advance, usually up to a year. When one tournament has resulted, major bookies go up with their prices for next year’s renewal. There’s a risk involved in betting early, of course, but you’ll often find the prices are better than those available to backers holding out until nearer the time. As well as the outright winner there will also be a number of competition and team specials, such as leading try scorer for England.
Changing our focus to each game and followers of the rugby betting scene know the coverage given by online bookmakers. All major fixtures have betting odds attached and there are dozens of markets associated with each game. The schedule means it’s usually possible to enjoy a rugby bet every night of the week, picking through leagues from across the world. This is great for making a steady profit from the sport but it’s also good news for accumulator backers who target big wins for small stakes, aiming to give a serious boost to their account balance.
Take any UK match shown live on TV and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting your money down. You can bet on the winner of each game or play one of the many exciting specials. These usually include handicap, first try scorer, half time/full time, draw no bet, last try scorer, anytime try scorer, team leading at half time, to score a hattrick, total points, winning margin and plenty more besides. Your stake money will now give you an interest for 80 minutes.
In-Play Betting – How to Bet After the Game has Started
Another exciting aspect to rugby union gambling is the betting in-play market. With this, many of the original betting markets offered before the start remain live throughout the course of the game. Prices are updated to match the flow of play and handicap lines are also altered. The first try-scorer market will be changed to next try scorer when a team gets off the mark. The winning margins will also rise and fall, depending on how open or tight the play is.
Betting at Any Time You Like
There’s a couple of ways in-play betting can benefit you. The first, and most obvious, is the chance to gamble on the outcome even if you have missed the kick-off. Perhaps you were late getting to your betting account or only noticed an exciting fixture when the first whistle sounded. In the past, you’d be forced to watch on as a mere spectator with no chance of a financial interest. That’s no longer the case. As soon as the game begins the majority of pre-match markets are switched over to in-play betting and its business as usual.
The other main way to approach in-play betting is by using the early exchanges to get a feel for how both teams are set up. Are the starting line-ups tailored to a free-flowing match with lots of tries scored? Or perhaps it promises to be a defensive game where kicking penalties and playing for possession will be key. Is one player looking like he’s in the mood to put some big numbers on the board? Watch the live-action and respond to any early clues. The more attention you pay to the play, the more chance there will be of you grabbing a winner. In-play betting is about placing the right bet at the right time, beating the trading team.
Promotions – The Specials Offered by Major Bookmakers
When there’s a lot of interest around a rugby match or competition you can be sure major bookmakers will be quick to react. They want you to gamble your cash on the outcome through them. To ensure you choose one bookie over the competition, traders and their marketing teams may offer an incentive, such as a free bet.
The offers made change all the time to ensure they are fresh, eye-catching, better than the competition and relevant. That means, to get the best and most up-to-date check on the rugby deals you should visit the promotions tab of your favourite betting site. There you will find all sports offers available to both new and existing customers as well as the terms and conditions attached to each promo. We advise reading the T&Cs before proceeding with any special market or offer to avoid any surprises when collecting your winnings. For example, some firms pay profits in free bets only.
Get More For Your Money
We can get an idea of what to expect from the rugby promotions page by looking back at some of the popular offers made by major bookmakers in the past. We’ve seen free in-play bets offered to customers placing a pre-match wager, price boosts on favourites, enhanced places each-way, money back on losing bets and even enhanced multiples. There’s something to suit every type of punter, keep your eye out for the one that works best for you.
Making a regular profit from any type of sports betting, including rugby union, is about ensuring you get the best deal possible and your stake money works as hard as it can on your behalf. With bookies involved in a bitter war for your custom, many of the modern promotions make it almost impossible to lose your stake. Ensure you get the best deal.
Mobile Apps – Bet When you Want
The growth in popularity of mobile betting and the improvements in apps means you no longer have to be at your desktop or in a betting shop to place your punts. Download the mobile betting app of a bookmaker and you will be able to place the punts you want, where you want. Simply log in, choose your selections and click bet. You’re on.
Mobile apps allow you to bet, update info, cash out, deposit funds, take promotions, withdraw winnings, contact customer services, watch live sports streams and plenty more besides. If you have a reliable internet connection or strong wifi you are in complete control of how you bet and when you bet. You’ll never again be left out of the loop.
Live Streaming – Watch Sport on Your Desktop or Mobile
The best bookmakers offer live streaming on major sports, including rugby union, horse racing and football. If you place a bet on the outcome you can usually cheer on your selection in real-time through a modern, faultless, HD quality stream. Never again will you be forced to check a results site to see how you got on. Watch the live-action, bet in-play and cash out.