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Richard Hill wants to win the Heineken Cup in his last season with Saracens

Heineken Cup semi-finals tipping preview
25-Apr-2008

London Irish and Saracens try and mix it with the big boys this weekend as both teams make their bows in the Heineken Cup semi-finals against gnarled veterans of this stage of the competition.

Borthwick is favourite to be next England captain with William Hill

Borthwick next England rugby captain?
22-Apr-2008

With Phil Vickery almost sure to be ruled out through injury and Jonny Wilkinson definitely out, William Hill have opened a book on which player will start as England captain when they face the All Blacks in the first Test of their summer tour.

Strettle returns for Harlequins against London Irish

Premiership preview: Rugby betting
18-Apr-2008

The Premiership race cranks up another notch this weekend, with several ties looking crucial to the outcome at the top. London Irish v Harlequins and Saracens v Wasps look the choice clashes of the six-match programme and the former is considered good enough to be live on Sky Sports.

Corry will play for Leicester against Ospreys in the EDF Energy Cup final

Leicester vs Ospreys: EDF Cup final - rugby betting
11-Apr-2008

Both Leicester and the Ospreys are out of the Heineken Cup, and with the Welsh region languishing in sixth place in the Magners League, this weekend's EDF Energy Cup final at Twickenham is their last shot at silverware this season.

Rugby Betting: Six Nations 2009
16-Mar-2008

England have been installed as favourites for next year's Six Nations Championship. Brian Ashton's side bounced back to form on Saturday with a 33-10 thrashing of Ireland and that has lead the bookmakers to make them the 11-8 market leaders.

Rugby odds: Six Nations - Wales vs France
14-Mar-2008

France coach Marc Lievremont accumulated 25 caps as a player for France and it is interesting to see that he has reverted to his country's trusted lieutenants for his side's showdown with Wales in Cardiff this weekend.

England need to use their forward strength against Ireland

Rugby latest: Six Nations - England vs Ireland
14-Mar-2008

When rugby fans looked at the fixture list at the beginning of the Six Nations this season some may have seen this weekend's Twickenham encounter between Ireland and England as one which could be deciding the title. As it is, this match is played out between two sides who take to the field with feelings of disillusionment and lack of confidence.

Paul OConnell, left, returns to the Ireland starting line-up

Rugby odds: Six Nations - Ireland vs Wales
05-Mar-2008

Wales rock into Dublin for their Triple Crown showdown with Ireland amid speculation that home coach Eddie O'Sullivan and his rival Warren Gatland don't exactly see eye-to-eye.

Simon Shaw is one of several in-form England forwards

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Scotland vs England
05-Mar-2008

Those with their heads in the clouds will be lumping on England at 1/4 to come up trumps against their oldest rivals Scotland at Murrayfield even though wonder-kid Danny Cipriani has been dropped as full-back after 'inappropriate behaviour'.

Danny Cipriani has a chance to impress against Jonny Wilkinson

Rugby betting: weekend preview
29-Feb-2008

Wasps look terrific value to sting Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park. Visiting coach Ian McGeechan has the considerable benefit of being able to welcome back his host of internationals, and a powerful squad has driven up the M1 with the firm intention of bagging five points.

Andrew Sheridan, left, returns to the England front row

Rugby betting: Six Nations - France vs England
22-Feb-2008

France's Six Nations clash with England in the Stade de France will divide the rugby fraternity. Is it better to win ugly, or lose trying to plan for the future? England coach Brain Ashton has gone for the 'win at all costs' mentality and the 61-year-old has plumped for experience and brute force ahead of this World Cup semi-final replay in Paris.

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Ireland vs Scotland
22-Feb-2008

This must surely rate as the least glamorous Six Nations contest of the weekend as a struggling Scotland, who haven't scored a try yet, travel to Dublin in the hope of knocking off a team who are so lacking in confidence that they have the fewest World Ranking points since 2001.

Italy coach Nick Mallett goes to Cardiff expecting victory

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Wales vs Italy
22-Feb-2008

Wales have their tails up after two good wins in the Six Nations so far and there is a murmuring in the valleys that it could be 2005 all over again. Wales believe that Italy present just a minor hurdle in Cardiff on the Six Nations journey to what could be their second Grand Slam in three years.

Danny Cipriani returns for Wasps against Bath

Rugby betting: Guinness Premiership preview
15-Feb-2008

The Guinness Premiership welcomes back the international contingent this weekend for one round of league action after two weeks of thumping Six Nations fare.

Back Wales to open the scoring from a penalty at 6/4 with Totesport

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Wales vs Scotland
08-Feb-2008

It's amazing to think that Dan Parks and Chris Paterson missed just one attempt at the posts in the whole of the World Cup. Reunited for Scotland's trip to Cardiff, the Welsh should be wary of gaining too much confidence ahead of the two teams' clash in the Millennium Stadium.

France wing Vincent Clerc will hope for a free-scoring game

Rugby betting: Six Nations - France vs Ireland
08-Feb-2008

The weathermen are getting themselves in a lather about how spring has arrived early this year. The forecast for Paris this weekend is for beautiful, sunny skies, which as any rugby punter knows means a high-scoring encounter between France and Ireland.

Jonny Wilkinson will look for a return to form against Italy

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Italy vs England
08-Feb-2008

Although it is too early to tell, the gloomier critics are comparing England's Six Nations campaign to the disappointing 2004 vintage when the World Champions crumbled before our very eyes.

Mike Tindall returns to England after missing the World Cup

Rugby betting: Six Nations - England vs Wales
01-Feb-2008

Wales have encountered some fearful hammerings when they have had the temerity to cross the border, and they look in serious trouble in the face of what could be a ruthless onslaught from England at Twickenham. Wales have recruited extremely well by choosing former Wasps supremo Warren Gatland to take over as coach from Gareth Jenkins, and the harnessing of Shaun Edwards may prove a masterstroke in time.

Dan Parks starts at fly-half for Scotland against France

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Scotland vs France
01-Feb-2008

This is quite possibly the most crucial fixture of the entire championship. Only France have managed to lose their first fixture and then managed to go on to win the championship, and for probably the first time in Six Nations history, Scotland can be forgiven for fancying their chances of securing the title.

Ronan O'Gara needs to discover his form on the international stage

Rugby betting: Six Nations - Ireland vs Italy
01-Feb-2008

Nick Mallett managed to steer the Springboks to one of the most amazing unbeaten sequences in world rugby when he guided them to 17 wins on the trot. It is a feat that he is highly unlikely to repeat with Italy, who he now coaches after Pierre Berbizier stood down after the World Cup.

Bath are the in-from side of the Premiership

Rugby betting: weekend preview
25-Jan-2008

Even with the Heineken Cup pool stages over and done with, there are several heavyweight bouts taking place this weekend to keep rugby punters' appetites whetted before next week's Six Nations kicks off.

Lesley Vainikolo returns for Gloucester against Ulster

Rugby betting: Heineken Cup Rd 6
18-Jan-2008

It's the final week of the pool stages in the Heineken Cup, and for the first time in the tournament's 13-year history, none of the pool winners are decided going into round six.

Brian ODriscoll is key to Leinster's Heineken Cup hopes

Latest rugby odds: Heineken Cup rd 5
11-Jan-2008

Reputations go on the line this weekend as the top teams in the Magners League and the French League go head-to-head, with Leinster hosting Toulouse. The Guinness Premiership's leading side, Gloucester, also offer up their 100 per cent Heineken Cup record this season to the Ospreys, who they visit on Saturday afternoon.

The London Irish lineout is the strongest in the Guinness Premiership

Rugby betting: Guinness Premiership preview
04-Jan-2008

Bet of the weekend is London Irish receiving a handicap start, when they host Sale Sharks in Reading on Sunday. London Irish have a decent record at the Madejski Stadium this season, with only high-flying Bath winning there in the Premiership, and even then Bath only edged it 22-20.

Danny Cipriani is 5/2 to start for England in the Six Nations opener

Rugby betting: England's Six Nations fly-half
03-Jan-2008

As a new year starts attention switches back to rugby union and the Six Nations. England coach Brian Ashton, boosted by a new rolling contract, has a short time to address some key selection issues ahead of the tournament which kicks off in early February.

France are the current Six Nations champions

Six Nations 2008
02-Jan-2008

France are the defending champions and they will be hoping for a record third successive win under their new coach, Marc Lièvremont. Brian Ashton has steadied the ship with England and after his side's Wold Cup heroics he will be hoping they are strong contenders in 2008.

Bath are a force up front in this year's Guinness Premiership

Rugby betting: Guinness Premiership - Wasps vs Bath
28-Dec-2007

Bath coach Steve Meehan has made the bold move of leaving out World Cup-winning fly-half Butch James this afternoon, and the gutsy strategy could well pay off when his side clash with Wasps at Adams Park in front of the Sky cameras.

Charlie Hodgson needs to find peak form for Sale to win back his England place

Rugby betting: Guinness Premiership - Sale vs Leicester
21-Dec-2007

One of the most mouth-watering fixtures in the Premiership season takes place this weekend, with Sale hosting Leicester in Stockport in the 2.45pm kick-off live on Sky Sports 2.

Cardiff take on Stade Francais on Saturday in Heineken Cup round four

Rugby Betting: Heineken Cup Rd 4
13-Dec-2007

Cardiff put up a heroic effort in defeat last week against Stade Francais, and back in the cosy confines of the Cardiff Arms Park, they can dispatch the pink brigade of Stade Francais with some ease.

Loffreda takes charge of Leicester against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup

Rugby betting: Heineken Cup third round
07-Dec-2007

It's double header time in the Heineken Cup, and boy are there some glamour ties. Leicester and Toulouse, who have won five of the 12 Heineken Cups between them, take each other on in a group-deciding arm wrestle starting at Welford Road this weekend.

Rugby Betting: South Africa v Barbarians
30-Nov-2007

World Champions South Africa swept aside Wales last week in the Millennium Stadium and the black-and-white might of the Barbarians look unlikely to stop the Springboks at Twickenham.

James Hook starts at fly-half for Wales against South Africa on Saturday

Rugby betting: Wales vs South Africa
23-Nov-2007

World champions South Africa pitch up at Cardiff to face Wales for the honour of playing for the Prince William Cup. The Prince has kindly allowed the use of his name for a new cup to mark the centenary of a rugby relationship between the two countries.

Saracens are overpriced at 10/3 with Bet365 to beat Biarritz in the Heineken Cup

Rugby Betting: Heineken Cup second round
16-Nov-2007

There are some glamour ties this weekend in the Heineken Cup with Gloucester taking on the Ospreys, Llanelli hosting Wasps, and showcase Sunday, when Stade Francais travel to Bristol, former champions Munster clash with Clermont, and Toulouse try to make up for their quarter-final defeat to Leinster in 2006.

Juan Martin Hernandez is key to Stade Francais at either No 10 or full-back

Rugby Betting: Heineken Cup tournament preview
09-Nov-2007

When perusing the pools for this year's Heineken Cup, it is striking to see that the best teams have been drawn in the most difficult groups.

Back Munster at +5 on the handicap with Stan James against Wasps

Rugby Betting: Heineken Cup Round One: Wasps vs Munster
09-Nov-2007

ABBA belted out the lyrics, "Money, Money, Money, It's a rich man's world" and Wasps could have the Swedes' pop-tastic voices ringing in their ears after this weekend as they give up home advantage to play Munster at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Hernandez will be key for Argentina in the 3rd/4th World Cup playoff against France

No handicap for Argentina in World Cup final bow
19-Oct-2007

So here we are then. After 46 games, and it is back to square one. France take on Argentina for a second time this Rugby World Cup and despite everything that we have learnt in the past few weeks, the Pumas are once again massive underdogs.

Jonny Wilkinson is backed to score all of England's points in the Rugby World Cup final

Wilkinson to score all England's World Cup final points?
19-Oct-2007

Stan James are facing at least a £1m payout if England win the World Cup thanks to some bright spark suggesting they refund all of their bets taken on the tournament outright market if one of the home nations went on to win. And yet, the World champions are in the World Cup final through a mixture of playing cup rugby, being realistic, and sheer guts. And it is that kind of will, that sheer belief that has hauled England from nothing to something.

Betting news for the Rugby World Cup Semi Final.

France too strong in World Cup semi
12-Oct-2007

Both teams come into this fixture with the strange whiff of rugby success adhering to them after their wins over the world's top two rugby teams. And it all looked so bad a few weeks ago. England's 2003 World Cup semi-final rematch with France in Paris is the first time that teams who had lost in the Pool stage have contested a game at this stage of the tournament.

What are the betting odds for Argentina and South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final?

Argentina to suprise Boks in RWC semi
12-Oct-2007

Argentinian prop Juan Martin Scelzo has a butcher for a father. It is unlikely that he would have chopped up, let alone grilled, any Springbok. Scelzo on the other hand may start a family tradition because his side have a magnificent chance of upsetting the rugby odds on Sunday by beating South Africa in the World Cup semi-final.

Juan Martin Hernandez is proving to be the player of the tournament

Argentina too strong for turgid Scots
07-Oct-2007

Some may see Argentina as the surprise package of this tournament, but they fully merit their success at this World Cup and they should easily account for Scotland. Whether it was nerves, or the heat of the battle, the Scots were turgid against Italy. They failed to score a try and relied far too heavily on points machine Chris Paterson.

Fiji to hold their own on the handicap
07-Oct-2007

South Africa have managed to fluke the easiest quarter-final draw. It is this perception, however, that could well see their undoing against Fiji on the handicap markets.

Richie McCaw will be pleased to play the hosts away from France

France no handicap for All Blacks
06-Oct-2007

Hosts France will be clinging to one memory when they take on New Zealand in Cardiff. It is a memory that will live long in the hearts of all French rugby fans, and one that made a certain Christophe Lamaison a national hero. I am talking of course, about Les Bleus' eye-poppingly brilliant World Cup semi-final defeat of the All Blacks at Twickenham in 1999.

Rugby team from Australia in the Rugby World Cup 2007.

Australia get the drop on holders?
05-Oct-2007

Ah. The old grudge match. England take on Australia in a World Cup for the fifth time, with the scores reading two all. Both sides have beaten each other away from home to win the Webb Ellis Trophy, and yet both are here scrapping in Marseille to get a shot at the world No.1 side in the semis.

The Ireland camp have been in disarray and are underdogs against Argentina

Irish eyes not smiling
30-Sep-2007

There is something rotten in the state of Ireland. Eddie O'Sullivan has presided over a complete meltdown in his side's fortunes since the Six Nations. They have been awful in all departments in France.

Italy value for the scrap
29-Sep-2007

Scotland coach Frank Hadden's took a bold gamble last weekend to rest his players against New Zealand in front of home fans. He made this move so that his players would be fresh ahead of their crunch Pool C encounter with Italy in St Etienne. But could it backfire?

Brian Ashton will rely on his forwards to help beat the Tongans

Keeping it in the forwards
27-Sep-2007

There is an old saying in rugby circles which states that forwards win the match while the backs decide by how much. It's a neat phrase, but a bit patronising if you have cauliflower ears and stand over 6ft 5in tall.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Suulivan has seen his odds shorten to lose his job

O'Sullivan may pay for mediocrity
25-Sep-2007

Eddie O'Sullivan has been gambled into just 11/4 to be out of his job as Ireland coach by the start of the 2008 Six Nations after one bookmaker saw a lot of money for him after Ireland's limp display against France in the pool stages.

All Blacks to pay penalty
23-Sep-2007

This match-up between Scotland and New Zealand in Edinburgh will be the fifth time the two teams have met in a World Cup, and yet, it is the first Pool-stage fixture between the two.

Despite Jonny Wilkinson's return England will struggle to get more than 27 points

England fail to make points
22-Sep-2007

Jules Verne found inspiration for his novels in the city of Nantes, and England coach Brian Ashton could do with a similar bout of stimulation ahead of his team's decisive clash with Samoa in the Loire capital.

Tonga are great value on the handicap at +53 against South Africa with VCBet

No handicap for Tonga
22-Sep-2007

Tonga's surprising 19-15 victory over arch-rivals Samoa last weekend was the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Everything is clear now, and the Pacific Islanders rate a significant bet in receipt of Victor Chandler's generous 53-point headstart.