Rugby originated in England in the first half of the 19th century and is now an incredibly popular sport all around the world across both codes. World Rugby currently has over 100 member countries from Europe, Argentina, America, Asia and Australasia making it a truly global game.
The game continues to grow in popularity as more fans discover the thrills and spills of this all action, thrilling sport, which in turn has led to more people placing bets on games. But if you’ve never placed a bet before or never considered betting on rugby union, then here’s our simple guide on how to make a smart rugby bet.
Online Bookmakers
The smartest and easiest way to place a rugby bet is through a reputable online bookmaker. The best online operators such as 888 Sport offer competitive odds, signing up offers and markets on games around the world. On top of that, customer service and security are class leading.
Simply follow the instructions to set up an account and you’re good to go.
Different Types of Rugby Bets
Now you’re signed up to a bookmaker the next step is to understand the different types of bets that are available. These can seem confusing at first if you’re new to it, but it’s incredibly simple once you get the hang of it. Below we take a look at some of the main types of rugby bets.
Outright Results Betting
Outright Results Betting is one of the most common types of bets that you will see in any almost any sport. If you are new to rugby betting then this is a great place to start as it couldn’t be simpler.
With outright results bets you place a bet on the predicted outcome of the match. So, if you think Widnes will be victorious then simply put your cash on them winning the game and that’s it. If they win, you’re in the money.
Pros:
Simple and easy to understand
Great for a beginner
Cons:
Returns are lower
Half Time/Full Time
This is similar to an outright bet but instead of betting who will win or lose the game, here your wager goes on who you think will be wining at half time, and who will be winning at full time.
If you think a team is going to dominate then it may be worth betting on them to be winning at both half time and full time. However, if you think they’re slow starters but they’ll make a comeback, then you’ll need to adjust your bet accordingly.
Pros:
Better odds than an outright bet and therefore potentially better returns
Cons:
If you get just one half of the bet wrong, then you lose.
Try Scorer
There is a huge variety of Try Scorer bets that you can place which means you will probably find something to tempt you. The main options include:
- First try scorer
- Last try scorer
- Most tries in the game
Pros:
Simple and easy to understand.
Cons:
Requires a little more research than an outright bet
Accumulators
An accumulator bet can seem complicated at first but it’s actually really simple. Instead of placing several bets on several outcomes, you place one bet on several outcomes.
This means that you may bet a set amount on first try scorer, last try scorer, most tries, outright result and the half time/full time market. If the first bet wins, the profits are added to the second bet with the original stake. This then ‘accumulates’ and continues to roll over as long as your selections keep winning.
A five-bet accumulator is called a fivefold, but if one of your selections loses than you lose the whole bet. More than five bets are called permutations and while the odds are higher, they allow for losses to occur. So, if one of your bets loses in the permutation, you can still win overall.
Pros:
Potentially big returns from small stakes
Cons:
Can be confusing at first
Difficult to get right
Need to do your homework so check out latest news and forum.
Handicap
These bets involve bookmakers giving one team a handicap in a match to make the game more exciting to bet on. For instance, a bookmaker may offer odds on a team to win but they start the game with a ten-point deficit. If that teams goes on to win the game by more than ten points, then your bet is a winner.
Handicap betting is typically used when one team has a much bigger chance of winning a game, and it can be added to make the betting more even and interesting. That way, for the favoured team to win the match, they not only have to win but also overcome the handicap to be the winner.
Pros:
Potential wins are greater
Adds more excitement to a game than a simple outright bet
Cons:
Harder to predict
Now you know the most common types of rugby bet available, and with lots of exciting rugby fixtures still to come this year, why not join in the fun and add some extra excitement to a game by placing a bet.
