Rugby Odds
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The team at BettingOdds.com have found the best rugby betting sites and odds available. Read our reviews below to find out more about which sites we recommend, the best current rugby bonuses and which tournaments to bet on.
Top Rugby Union Events to Bet On
Like many of the most popular UK sports, there’s a wide range of rugby tournaments and events to bet on. Let’s take a look at some of the events you’ll likely find at the best rugby betting sites.
Six Nations
Held once a year in February/March time, the Six Nations is a competition involving England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. It originated from the Home Nations when neither France nor Italy were involved, then became the Five Nations, moving up to Six Nations in 2000 when Italy joined. Ireland won the 2023 cup, but England holds the record for most Six Nations wins with seven titles. Joint second is France and Wales with six wins. The Women’s Six Nations was initiated in 1996, and England are the current 2023 title holders having beaten France 38-33 in the final.
Rugby World Cup
Held every four years, the Rugby World Cup is scheduled to begin in September 2023, and France are this year's hosts. The tournament allows 20 teams to take part, 12 of which are given a pass through previous World Cup performance, and 8 more that need to qualify. The 20 are then split into four groups and the top two move forward to the knockout stage. The 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup was won by South Africa, who beat England 32-12 in the final. The next Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to be held in England in 2025. Current champions are New Zealand after a thrilling 34-31 final against England.
Gallagher Premiership
The top flight league in English rugby union, the Gallagher Premiership contains ten teams and runs from September to May each year. The formation of the competition is slightly different to its football premier league counterpart in that each match is classed as a round, with the conclusion being a semi-final and final between the top four teams. The winner in 2023 was Saracens, and the London-based team has now won the title a total of six times. Leicester Tigers lead in terms of the amount of titles won with 11 championship wins.
Allianz Premier 15s
The Premier 15s is the highest league in women’s rugby union and is run by the RFU. It was formed in 2017, consisting of mostly premiership teams. The season runs from November to June and concludes with the same semi-final and final formation as the men’s premiership. The 2022 winner was Saracens, and they now hold three titles and lead the way in terms of most wins.
Top Rugby League Events to Bet On
Although not as popular in the UK as rugby union, there is plenty of punting opportunity on 13 a-side code rugby league. The premier competition for rugby league actually comes from Down Under, but there are a lot of high quality northern hemisphere rugby league games to get involved with...
NRL
In rugby league, unlike rugby union, the club game rules supreme and undoubtedly the pinnacle of the sport is the NRL. Australia's National Rugby League competition is home to all of the best players on the planet, with a few of England's finest plying their trade Down Under including John Bateman, Herbie Farnworth, Tom Burgess and Luke Thompson. The NRL operates a salary cap which is over triple the size of its main global competitor and the players in Australia, particularly in Sydney, are treated like Premier League footballers in the UK. Last season the Penrith Panthers recorded their second straight NRL Grand Final victory, defeating the Paramatta Eels. Prior to this only the Sydney Roosters of 2018/2019 had gone two in a row in the NRL era, exemplifying the competitiveness of the division.
State Of Origin
Often lamented by rugby league international enthusiasts as the bane of international league. State Of Origin sees the best players in Australia battle it out in a best of three series representing their birth states of either Queensland and New South Wales. These games stop the nation Down Under and there is plenty of betting attention on the games, with Sky Sports usually showing them early morning in the UK. State Of Origin is the most intense clash in rugby league and attracts the most eyeballs for good reason, so is a cracking opportunity to enjoy some elite level sport, do your research and have a punt.
Betfred Super League
Comprising of twelve teams predominantly located in the north of England, the Betfred Super League is the premier rugby league competition in Europe. In 2022 there were two French teams in Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique, but the latter named were relegated after finishing bottom and replaced by the Leigh Leopards. Over the years since the competition's inception and the move from amateur to professional, along with a switch from winter to summer, only four teams have claimed Super League glory. This famous four are Leeds, St Helens, Wigan and Bradford. The first three named are still powerhouses of the game, but the latter have hit financial difficulties and are now languishing in the lower leagues. There are plenty of opportunities to bet on the Super League, with the 2023 season proving unpredictable so far.
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup has been derided, disregarded and thrown into disarray down the years but the tournament still lives on. It was all set to be the biggest and best ever in 2021, but COVID had other ideas. The tournament took place a year later than scheduled in England and although it was still a success, particularly the breakout Wheelchair and Women's tournaments, there is a suspicion 2021 would've been even better. The momentum from that tournament is well and truly gone now after the supposed 2025 hosts France pulled out, citing a lack of funds. With the future of the tournament uncertain, it is unclear where or when the next World Cup will take place. New Zealand, South Africa and even Qatar have been mooted.
Compare Rugby Betting Odds and Sign Up
Now you’re in the know about everything to do with betting on rugby, look through our list of recommended betting sites at the top of this page, and click through to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which site has the best rugby betting odds?
Odds vary, so it’s always worth comparing before making your first bet. However, one of the sites we think provides decent rugby betting odds is Bet365.