How to Bet on Rugby
Massively popular in many countries, Rugby remains one of the more widespread betting sports.
Rugby betting is similar in scope and scale to wagering on American Football, both being rooted in handicaps and point-spreads.
Obviously there are many different types of rugby matches, however most folks acknowledge that Rugby Union is the preferred format of the game.
Betting on big internationals is quite similar to wagering on club level rugby: you simply have to do your homework on the respective teams and appreciate the dynamics of the game.
How to Bet
Obviously knowledge of the current teams, and their recent records, is paramount to turning a profit. Betting club-level rugby is a good intro to the game, but the big International matches are what make up the bulk of global rugby betting volume.
Most major bookmakers offer up a number of different handicap options for big rugby fixtures, but you’ll find that spread betting has a big hold on rugby-adoring punters.
Since handicaps and point spreads are an integral part of most rugby wagering, the big dividends you can get from spread betting begin to look much more exciting.
What to Look For
The key to betting on big rugby Internationals is to look at the lineups for each side. Usually you’ll see a few players swapped in and out of the side from match-to-match, and you’ll want to see how they stack up against the opposition.
It’s more helpful to be keeping track of individual player performances at International level than it is at club level as club rugby is generally more predictable.
Figure out the following:
- Who are your marquee players are on the team that you plan to back?
- What type of form are those players currently in?
- How do these players match up against their opponents in the past?
- Are they going to be the focal point of your teams attack?
Once you have those questions answered, you can take a look for some good value on first try-scorer.
Additionally, keep track of your teams’ scoring average at half-time and at the final whistle. Take their last 5 or even 10 matches and figure out how much they are averaging per match and then examine where the spreads are. Is there potential for a big win here or should they just scrape this one?
Once you have a firm understanding of the teams and where they stand, you can begin to look at the types of bets being offered.
Types of Bets
Match Betting: Similar to 1X2 betting in football, except the draw is much less common and can pay upwards of 20.0.
Handicap Betting:Most major bookmakers offer up a number of different handicap betting options. Here you are effectively subtracting points from your winning team’s total, and if they are still the winners after you subtract that margin you’ve got a handicap victory.
Winning Margins:This bet has you wagering on how much an individual team will win by, and most bookmakers offer the options of five or ten point differences.
First Tryscorer:This market is for wagering on who will score the first try of the match. Any player listed in single digits is a favoured scorer.
Anytime Tryscorer:Similar to first tryscorer except your player simply has to score during the fixture.
First Scoring Play:In addition to betting on who will make the first try, you can select which team will score first and whether it will be from a penalty, a try or a drop goal. Penalties are generally the lowest-priced options.
With the sheer volume of rugby being played around the world, you’ll rarely be lacking in opportunities to bet. Just like betting on football, or any other sport, the more information you can discern about the match and its players the more likely you are to end up on the winning side of a bet.