Category: Rugby Betting Offers

Rugby is a professional sport with a rich history around the world, especially in the UK where teams play in front of packed out arenas weekly. The game was formerly a bit of a niche sport but moved into the mainstream with the help of television coverage.

The more games shown on TV, the more fans began to flock to Rugby Union and Rugby League. As a result, the top competitions pulled in bigger sponsorship deals and could afford to pay the inflated wages demanded by the top players in the world. It’s exciting times to be a rugby follower and the great news is that surge is showing no signs of slowing down.

As you would expect, bookmakers certainly weren’t slow getting in on the action. The top online gambling sites ramped up their coverage, offering betting odds on more matches from more leagues. Traders also began to increase the number of pre-match and in-play betting markets offered on rugby and bettors can now have their say on match winner, correct score, handicap, first try scorer, anytime try scorer, and plenty more besides.

The modern rugby punter is spoiled for choice, but they must ensure they are getting the best deal for their money. Which firms are offering the most generous odds, the standout promotions and the markets that make it easier to bag a winner? It really does pay to show wisely. In this article we take a close look at the sport of rugby and provide links to some of the best rugby betting sites, aimed to help you join a winning team.

About Rugby

The majority of UK sports lovers will always choose football as the nation’s favourite and that can be seen by the sheer volume of people attending matches at every level. Rugby isn’t too far behind, however, and is closing the gap every season. The sport of rugby enjoys a diehard and loyal fanbase but the major competitions, especially at international level, catch the attention of casual fans, joining forces with regulars in a mutual appreciation of the game.

An important thing to remember when approaching rugby as a new or casual fan is there are two codes – Rugby Union and Rugby League. It’s an ancient argument between fans of each code which is better, and it seems like that one will never be settled. The truth is, although they share the name rugby and have many similarities, they are two different sports.

It would be like comparing boxing and UFC. Each is exciting and entertaining in its own way and that is true of Rugby Union and Rugby League. You can watch either live on TV and place bets on the outcome of your favourite teams or the matches that standout on the schedule.

The main aim when playing both sports is to score more points than the opposition but there are a few rules which differ. Below you will see some rules and points that are different when playing Rugby Union or Rugby League:

– Try = 5 points in Rugby Union
– Try = 4 points in Rugby League
– Conversion = 2 points in Rugby Union
– Field Goal = 1 point in Rugby League

Top Rugby Union Tournaments

When watching and betting on professional rugby there are dozens of excellent competitions and tournaments to take your fancy. You can stick to Rugby Union international matches, such as the Six Nations or Autumn Test Series, or you can follow club rugby games like the Premiership, European Cup, French Top 14, and more.

One thing’s for sure, you will never be left frustrated and lacking an interest if you are a lover of Rugby Union and that will be the case regardless of the time of year or even the time of day with games kicking off in Europe throughout the afternoon and early evening with Australia taking armchair fans into the wee small hours.

Three of the best Rugby Union competitions are detailed below:

– Rugby World Cup was first introduced in the late 1980s and has grown in popularity year on year. More teams are qualifying, more games are shown live on TV and the matches are far more competitive today than they ever were.
– Six Nations Championship is a real fans favourite in the UK and is seen as the unofficial European Championships. It’s an annual event with the tournament consisting of six teams – England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and France, although there has been talk of adding more teams in the near future. Each side are involved in a league table, playing the other members once, the venue changing between home and away on alternative years.
– Aviva Premiership is another with a huge following in Great Britain and this is club rugby, as opposed to the two above which are international rugby tournaments. The Premiership is the top division of English professional rugby and consists of a dozen teams in a league format played annually.

Top Rugby League Tournaments

If you prefer Rugby League or can enjoy both codes, rest assured you will have just as much to keep you busy in as those signed up to Rugby Union. The rules may differ but there is no less excitement or drama in the 80 minutes of play. There are also games taking place across the world from international rugby to club rugby so you’ll often find there’s a much just about to start. With many of the top games shown live on TV it’s great news for armchair fans and sports bettors.

Bookies offer betting on games and league outright winners from all the top competitions and you can bet before the start or in-play. You can even make your predictions on the winner of cups and divisions before kick-off in the first game or at any time up until the final whistle of the last game.

Below are some Rugby League tournaments to look out for:

– Six Nations
– Super League
– Challenge Cup
– NRL
– State of Origin
– World Cup

Rugby betting

As a popular sport, rugby is well catered for by all the main bookies. You’ll find a wide range of markets covering all aspects of both disciplines of the game. Some bookies have more in depth coverage than others, particularly in Rugby League. Our top pick for rugby betting is just below, along with any rugby enhanced odds that are currently available at the top of the page.

• Betfred - SportBet £10 Get £50 in free betsClaim
  New customers only. 18+ Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org