Beginner’s Guide to Rugby Betting

Rugby betting continues to grow in popularity now that it’s so easy to wager on the sport online. Whether you’re wagering on international contests or national league matches, you can really benefit from your knowledge of the sport. And we’re here to help you by giving you the lowdown with this rugby betting guide.

Rugby is a sport that has enjoyed great popularity for decades all over the world. Although there are slight differences in the rules depending on where the matches are played, the basic gist of the sport is uniform in that two teams try to outscore each other in one of the most physical and athletic competitions in the world. Betting on rugby games via online sports gambling sites can give you the chance to win big.

In the following article, we’ll give you a ruby betting guide that will help you get started with wagering on the sport. We’ll give some basic information on the sport along with information on the different bets that you can make. On top of that, we’ll talk about where to bet on rugby, offer some tips on the wagering process, and answer some important questions you might have about online rugby betting.

The Basics of Rugby

Rugby originated in the 19th century and has grown over the years to the top sport that it is today. It pits two teams against one another on a grass field, or pitch. Fans of American football will recognize some elements of the match, especially in the way that points are scored.

Teams try to maneuver the ball down the field until they get close to scoring position. The team with the most points at the end of the match wins. They can score in several ways:

• Try (5 points): Similar to a touchdown in that a player has to physically touch the ball down in the goal area.
• Penalty goal/drop goal (3 points): These are similar to field goals in football, in that they require the players to kick the ball over the goal post.
• Conversion (2 points): This is the equivalent of an extra point in football, in that it comes right after a try for the team that scored.

In addition, rugby includes the concept of tackling, as the team without the ball tries to stop opposing players from moving down the field. And there are fouls that, when committed, give the team that didn’t commit the foul an advantage.

But the main aspect of rugby that separates it from football is that no forward passes are allowed. Teams can move it down the field by running or kicking it forward. Only lateral or backward passes are allowed between teammates.

Types of Bets

The good news is that the structure of the sport means that those learning how to bet on rugby have many different options at their disposal. Each type of rugby bet carries with it its own system of rugby betting odds and its own levels of risk and reward. Check out the real money rugby betting options you can utilize.

Match Bets

The concept between a match bet in rugby is pretty simple to understand, even for beginners. You’re just betting on which of two teams in a match will win. It’s how these bets gets paid off that can get tricky for bettors.

Most online gambling sites and sportsbooks use the concept of moneylines to handle rugby match bets. A moneyline is the oddsmaker’s way of evening out the match so that approximately the same amount of money is wagered on both sides. That is the ideal result for those taking the bet, because it prevents them from suffering big losses on a single result.

Here are some of the factors that will help you understand moneylines as they pertain to rugby betting lines:

• The favorite is the team with the minus sign in front of the number
• The underdog is the team with the plus sign in front of the number
• Moneylines use 100 monetary units (dollars, euros, etc.) as the basis for the bets

Take a look at an example that will help you understand rugby betting odds for match bets. Imagine that you see the following international match with the following line:

In this match, South Africa is the favorite and New Zealand is the underdog. If you bet on South Africa to win the match, you’ll get paid at a ratio of $100 for every $125 you bet. And if you bet on New Zealand, you’ll get paid back at a ratio of $150 for every $100 you bet.

Using these lines can allow you to figure out how much you’ll win for any size bet. For example, imagine that you want to bet $50 on New Zealand to win. Since $50 is half of the base bet of $100, you’ll divide the +150 by 2 to come out with +75, or a $75 payback on a $50 bet.

Match bets are the most popular of all rugby wagers. But for those who want to try other options that are bit more intricate, you can certainly find them at sports betting websites.

Point Spread Betting

In keeping with the similarity to American football, rugby includes the concept of point spread wagering. Point spreads are also used to even out two sides. The idea is to give the favored team a handicap by awarding points to the underdog, at least for betting purposes.

Point spreads are usually used at betting websites and sportsbooks in conjunction with moneylines. Take a look at an example:

If you decide to wager on England “with the spread,” you would win this bet if England wins the match. But you would also win if England loses the match but by less than 4 ½ points. For example, if France were to win 21-18, England would be the winning bet with the spread.

If, on the other hand, you wanted to wager on France “against the spread,” the only result that would be a winning bet for you would be if they won the match by more than 4 ½ points. For example:

1. France wins 24-13; bet is a win
2. France wins 17-16; bet is a loss

Many times, oddsmakers will include ½ as part of point spreads for those rugby betting online. This prevents any chance of a bet being tied, which would require all money to be returned.

Margin Betting

Margin wagering on rugby matches is a similar concept to point spreads. But instead of betting on one team or the other, you are betting on the possible margins that a winning team might manage. Take a look at an example:

• Team wins by 1 to 4 ½ points: +150
• Team wins by 5 to 9 ½ points: +300
• Team wins by 10 pints or more: +700
• Team loses: +120

As you can see, the winning bet depends on the final margin of victory (if the team in question does indeed win the match). The advantage of margin betting over other similar types of real money rugby betting wagers is that it offers you a higher range of payback on a single match result. That could be a lure for those who are trying for a significant payback, even if the rugby odds raise the risk level a little bit.

Over/Under

With an over/under wager, you can wager on something other than which team will come out on top of match. Instead, you’ll be wagering on how many points will be scored by both teams in a match. For example, you might see a wager like this:

You can then speculate on whether or not you think the total points will rise above or fall below that level. Over/under bets are typically set up as 50/50 propositions, with low potential payback but a good chance of winning. That might be what you’re seeking if you like wagers that are somewhat low-risk.

Halftime Bets

Rugby is typically played in two 40-minute halves. This allows you to speculate on how the two teams will stand at the end of the half. Moneylines, point spreads and over/under lines will all be set with the shorter amount of playing time taken into consideration.

Proposition Bets

Most of the bets we’ve mentioned so far have had to do with the two teams playing and the score they accumulate. Proposition bets allow you to look at the match in a different way. And they can be offered by gambling websites and sportsbooks if the match is big enough to create a lot of betting interest.

For example, you might wager on which player manages to score the first try of the match. Or you can also decide to wager on which player will score the most points. There are many ways that you can speculate on a match via proposition wagers, and many can pay off much more than more traditional rugby wagers.

Futures Wagers

Futures wagers usually take a look at the big picture of rugby, often in terms of which teams will win a league, series, or tournament. The idea behind them is to make the wager early enough when the odds are extremely favorable. If you wager correctly, you can get a much bigger payoff than if you had waited.

For example, you might want to bet on the next Rugby World Cup, which only takes place once every four years. You might choose a team that is way down on the odds board right now, hoping that they can improve in the interim until the tournament takes place and become a legitimate contender. Futures wagers are a way to get a kind of lottery ticket in your rugby betting online.

Different Types of Rugby

When you’re betting, it’s important to understand which of the two major types of the sport is being played. The sport can be broken down into Rugby Union or Rugby League styles of play. There is a long history behind why and how the two versions separated, but the most important thing for you to know when it comes to rugby betting purposes is to be aware of the differences.

The two differ in the way that points are awarded, the number of men on the field, the number of tackles allowed before a team must give up possession of the ball, and many other rules. These differences will have an impact not only on which teams are better suited to win but also on the number of points that might be scored in a match. All of that is pertinent to how you bet on the matches.

How to Bet on Rugby

Now that you have a handle on the basics of the sport, the different variations of it, and the types of rugby betting for real money you can do, you should learn how and where to place your bets. When it comes to rugby betting, you have two main options: sportsbooks and online sports betting sites.

Sportsbooks

Sportsbooks are locations where sports betting is legal in whatever part of the world they operate. You can go in and bet on sports around the world at these locations. And you can collect your winnings there as well.

Most sportsbooks in the United States are included with casinos. In Europe and other parts of the world where rugby betting is popular, there are sportsbooks which stand alone from casinos. In either case, you can make your rugby bets at these locations.

You can find employees at sportsbooks that will take your wagers and print out tickets with all the betting information on them. Or you can use self-wagering kiosks at these sites. In either case, make sure all your information is correct before walking away with your ticket.

Gambling Websites

For convenience alone, rugby betting at online betting websites might be your preferred choice. You don’t have to worry about making it to a casino or sportsbook, which either might not be possible or might just be too much of a hassle. When you consider all the other benefits that go along with online sports betting sites, you might not even think of doing it any other way.

About the only drawback from betting online, compared to in person sportsbooks, is that it might take you a little longer to collect your winnings. But the bonuses, the variety of bets, and the potential winnings are all there, all of which you can utilize on your own time in complete privacy.

How do you wager at rugby betting websites? Just follow these steps:

• Select a website. Make sure you take this process seriously, as you’ll be entrusting these websites with your money. We suggest you go with one of the following sites, which we consider to be the best on the internet.
• Sign up. You’ll need to give information about yourself, as well as coming up with a username and password. This will allow you to pick up right where you left off with your account whenever you want.
• Fund the account. Most of the best rugby betting sites offer many different options for both funding your account and, when you win, withdrawing your money. Just enter the necessary funding information at this point.
• Redeem any bonuses. When you first sign up for a betting site, you’re likely to be offered betting bonuses to use with your first wagers. They might be automatically entered into your account, but it’s more likely you might have to enter a bonus code of some kind to activate them.
• Choose and make your bets. You just have to navigate between the different pages to get to the rugby betting page. Then, it’s just a matter of clicking on the right type of bet, the match involved, and the amount you want to wager.
• Withdraw your winnings. Each gambling website will include different rules and regulations concerning withdrawals, and you should familiarize yourself with these. At the best websites for online sports gambling, you won’t have to wait very long to claim your earnings.

Rugby Betting Tips

• Know the type of rugby being played. If you’re a beginner, you might not know what kind of rugby is being played in different matches. And that will have an impact for sure, due to the differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union matches.
• Keep an eye on current form. If a particular team is on a hot streak in recent matches, they could be problematic matchup for a well-regarded team that might be in a slump. Don’t just rely on reputation when you’re rugby betting for real money.
• Decide what you’re hoping to accomplish. This speaks more to your own personal preferences, in terms of either sticking with safe bets that pay off modestly or going for broke with risky bets that pay off well. Once you identify your objective, you’ll know well what bets you want to make.
• Don’t bet on every match. It can be tempting when you first sign up for a gambling website to take on as much rugby betting action as you can. But it can also be harmful to your bank account, as it will raise your chances of making mistakes. Instead, bet only on the matches for which you have a pretty good feel for the outcome.
• Research, research, research. The best bettors are the most well-informed bettors, and that’s the case for rugby bettors as well. Try to find out as much information as you can about the teams involved so that you can make a good decision about your wager.

FAQs About Betting on Rugby Online

Conclusion

We hope that you have a better idea of how to bet on rugby after reading this guide. The sport offers many lucrative betting opportunities at sportsbooks and sports gambling websites. It’s just a matter of doing your homework, learning the sport, and choosing your wagers wisely in order to become a successful rugby bettor.