Rugby Union Betting & Odds at NetBet Sport

Rugby Union is one of the most popular and followed sports in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it is a 15-player per team game which has huge fanbases all across the globe, particularly in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and France.

And despite not being as popular as football or horse racing in the eyes of bettors, Rugby Union betting is still a big deal. Here at NetBet, we cater to the needs of every Rugby Union fan with competitive markets and odds on all the top competitions, from international tournaments to domestic divisions and beyond.

Below, we’ve put together a little guide which should answer some of the most pressing questions you have about both Rugby Union as a sport, and the world of Rugby Union betting. Enjoy!

What is the difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League?

Rugby Union and Rugby League share some similarities, but there are also some key differences which you must learn before even contemplating a bet on either sport.

Firstly, Rugby Union - which is often viewed as the more popular of the two sports - is played with 15 players, rather than the 13 muscle-bound athletes seen in each Rugby League starting team.

Rugby Union features rucks, mauls and contested scrums, where selected players from each team battle for possession. Oh, and don’t forget lineouts for when the ball goes out of play. In Rugby League, scrums are uncontested and there is also a six-tackle rule, which sees possession surrendered to the opposing team once they’ve been completed. And when the ball goes out of play, the action is restarted with a simple tap kick, rather than the more complex lineout.

In essence, Rugby Union is more about tactical kicking and set-piece play, on top of the hard-hitting tackles and accurate passes. Rugby League is more about speed and the manipulation of open play.

Scoring wise, in Rugby Union tries are worth 5 points, conversions 2 points, penalties 3 points and drop goals 3 points. In Rugby League tries are worth 4 points, conversions 2 points, penalties 2 points and drop goals 2 points.

What are the biggest Rugby Union Betting Competitions?

Rugby World Cup: The biggest tournament of them all. Played every four years, this is the highest standard of professional rugby there is.

Six Nations: An annual tournament played between Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. If a team wins all of their matches in a Six Nations tournament, their victory is declared a ‘Grand Slam’.

British & Irish Lions Tour: Every four years, the best Rugby Union players in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales join forces for a tour to either South Africa, New Zealand or Australia. The Lions play three Tests against the hosting party.

United Rugby Championship: An annual rugby competition featuring club teams from Ireland (Connacht, Leinster, Munster & Ulster), Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.

Investec Champions Cup: The biggest Rugby Union club tournament in Europe, featuring some famous teams from across the continent and a collection of the best players in the world.

What are the most popular Rugby Union Betting Markets?

Match Result: Predict which team you think will win the Rugby Union match. There is a ‘Draw’ option here, though this will always be at very high rugby odds given how rare that outcome is in this sport.

Points Handicap: This market involves giving one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage. For example, if you bet on ‘Ireland -6.5’, the Irish have to win the match by at least 7 points. If you bet on ‘Ireland +6.5’, the Irish only have to avoid losing by 7 points or more for the wager to land. Got it?

First Tryscorer: Predict which player you think will score the first try of the match.

Half-Time/Full-Time: This involves predicting the score at half-time and full-time. If you select ‘Ireland/Ireland’, the Irish have to be winning when the two whistles are blown. If you select ‘Ireland/England’, the Irish must be winning at half-time and then England produce a comeback to win the match in the second half.

Total Points Odd/Even: Select whether you think the combined points total in a Rugby Union match will be an odd or even number. This market is pure pot luck, so approach with caution.

Winning Margin: Predict how large or small you think a team’s winning margin will be in a Rugby Union match. If you bet on ‘1-12’, the odds will be fairly short with such a significant margin for error, but the increased risk of ‘1-5’ will reward you with far higher betting odds.

Is there Live Rugby Union Betting at NetBet?

Yes, live betting options are available for all Rugby Union matches at NetBet. Often referred to as In-Play betting, this method has become hugely popular in the modern world thanks to the advancements in technology. Nowadays, bettors are not restricted to the pre-match odds set by the various different algorithms which sportsbooks use. Of course, that is still a viable option, but punters can now use their extensive knowledge of a sport - in this case Rugby Union - to maximise the chances of winning by reacting to real-time events in a match or competition.

Throughout the course of a Rugby Union event, the In-Play markets and odds will change according to how the action on the pitch is unfolding. So say Ireland are down on the scoreboard during a crucial Six Nations clash but are piling on the pressure in the second half, head over to our live betting section and choose Ireland to win the match from behind, which should be at far superior Rugby Union odds to those provided pre-match. In-Play betting adds another layer of excitement to the already intriguing world of Rugby Union betting.

Are there Outright markets for Rugby Union Betting?

As well as pre-match and live betting options, outright bets can be placed on all the major Rugby Union tournaments and competitions.

On our Rugby Union page, navigate to the ‘Outrights’ section next to ‘Competitions’ and you’ll be presented with a new list of the biggest competitions, from the Six Nations to the World Cup. The ‘Winner’ market is by far the most popular here - and it can prove to be a great source of value if you do your research on the all teams involved.