Best Rugby Betting Sites in the UK
Rugby Union, known simply as Rugby, is the sport most commonly played in the UK and Commonwealth countries. Rugby Union has produced many related sports, such as Rugby League and Rugby Sevens.
We’ll explore Rugby betting: consider the best rugby betting sites in the UK and give useful tips.
Top 5 Rugby Betting Sites
Best UK Rugby Betting Site | William Hill |
Best New Rugby Betting Site | Vbet |
Best Rugby Betting Promos | Sky Bet |
Best Rugby Betting Odds | Bet365 |
Best Rugby Betting App | 888sport |
William Hill
Rugby betting is divided into two sections: League and Union. The League section features the NRL, Super League, European Challenge Cup, State of Origin and Rugby World Cup. In the Union section, there are the Six Nations, Premiership Rugby, the Heineken Champions Cup, the World Cup and other tournaments from around the world. The range of rugby betting markets is much wider than in the League section (about 800 markets against 150).
VBET
The Vbet rugby betting site also offers to bet on Rugby 13s and Rugby 15s: these sports are located in separate sections. Matches can be found in the pre-match section (upcoming games) or via the Calendar feature. The Vbet selection of events for betting on rugby includes championships of England, France, Australia, Russia and other countries, as well as international tournaments. The bookmaker’s range of betting markets provides over 250 options, including a vast selection of markets to bet on players.
Bet365
In the Rugby 13s, rugby betting fans are offered markets to bet on the Australian NRL, the Super League of England and other popular tournaments. On the Rugby 15s tab, there are the Six Nations, World Rugby Sevens Series, European Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, and European national leagues are available for betting. Enhanced odds offers appear in the Bet Boos field. Also, in the Rugby section, Bet365 provides the Bet Builder feature. For top matches, there are over 600 rugby markets available.
888 Sport
For Rugby competitions, 888sport has two sections – Rugby 13s and Rugby 15s. There is a decent selection of sporting events, including the England Superleague and National Rugby League Australia (Rugby 13s), the World Cup, Six Nations, European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup, England Premiership (Rugby 15s). Top match betting market coverage is very good (around 200 options).
Sky Bet
In Rugby 13s, you can bet on the SL, Australian NRL, Challenge Cup and State of Origin. In Rugby 15s, you can bet in the following competitions: the European Champions Cup, Gallagher Premiership, URC, French Top 14, Six Nations, Rugby World Cup, British & Irish Lions Tour. In both sections, there is an option to place an outright bet on the tournament winner. For rugby betting, Sky Bet regularly provides enhanced odds on specific markets, as well as acca bonuses.
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Best Rugby Betting Odds
The size of rugby betting odds depends on margins. A margin is betting companies’ commission on the accepted stake amount, which bookmakers will receive regardless of the outcome of events. Even with the best and most competitive odds, payouts are never at 100%, but the lower the margin, the higher the Rugby 13s and Rugby Union odds and your potential winnings. In this section, we will look at the UK online bookmakers that offer the best rugby odds.
Bookmaker | World Cup | United Rugby Championship | Super League | Average margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
William Hill | – | 9.47% | 8.49% | 8.98% |
Bet365 | 5.94% | 8.37% | 5.50% | 6.60% |
888Sport | – | 10.20% | 11.09% | 10.65% |
Vbet | 10.27% | 10.46% | 8.48% | 9.74% |
BoyleSports | 7.02% | 8.67% | 8.67% | 8.12% |
Parimatch | – | 9.64% | 10.44% | 10.04% |
Quinnbet | – | 7.87% | 8.02% | 7.95% |
10Bet | 9.45% | 9.76% | 9.76% | 9.66% |
Rugby Betting Offers
Niche bonuses for betting exclusively on rugby sporting events are quite rare. Such promotions may be linked to the start of major international competitions, such as the Six Nations or the World Cup. However, many regular offers of sports betting companies are suitable for betting on both Rugby 13s and Rugby 15s games.
Best Rugby Betting App
A huge number of rugby fans prefer betting on rugby from smartphones or tablets. Many best rugby betting sites strive to make sports betting as convenient as possible and develop separate mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The best betting apps allow you to enjoy the following betting opportunities:
- Quickly make deposits and withdrawals. This is important in case of In Play betting on rugby, when every second counts;
- Get stats on matches and entire tournaments. The best betting app works in the “second screen” mode. It provides the user with information that is difficult to find out from a TV broadcast;
- Follow games via live streaming directly from a mobile phone. Live streaming gives you a better understanding of the game and allows you to place more accurate sports bets.
Rugby Union Betting
In classic rugby, 15 players from each team take the field (the game is also called rugby-15). The main task of the player in possession of the ball is to get rid of it, which both teams fight for in a free-for-all called a ruck. The number of maximum tackles and players participating in the collective struggle is not limited. After the ball goes out of bounds, the Rugby Union teams line up a corridor of 8 rugby players on each side, and the ball is thrown into the middle of the corridor. Each attempt when a player carries the ball into the scoring zone is worth 5 points. A team gets an extra 2 points for a successful conversion. A penalty hit is worth 3 points, and a drop goal from play also earns 3 points.
The following rugby union betting sites suit for betting most: Bet365, William Hill, Sky Bet.
Rugby League Betting
This sport, also known as Rugby 13s, is a more dynamic game compared to Rugby 15s, with two teams of 13 players each facing off on the field. The game ball is also different: it is smaller, heavier, and more pointed, making it easier to hit long distances, but with less predictable bounces. In Rugby 13s, less attention is paid to the struggle for scoring zones. The main task is to free the captured player, after which they can play the ball and start an attack. Six players participate in the struggle, and if the attacking team fails to score after six tackles (i.e. fail to drop the ball into the score zone), the ball is turned over to the other team. The struggles happen without pressure and are faster, and rivals do not line up a corridor during throw-ins. Each try is worth 4 points, with an extra 2 points awarded for conversions, 2 points for a successful penalty kick and 1 point for a drop goal are also awarded.
According to experts at Match.Center, the best rugby league betting sites in the UK are 888Sport, BoyleSports.
Comparison of Rugby Union and Rugby League
On UK betting sites, users can place bets on both League and Union games. These are related disciplines, but there are differences: the number of players on the field, scoring and some others.
Key differences | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
---|---|---|
Number of players in the team | 15 | 13 |
Players in the scrum | 8 | 6 |
Points for a try / conversion / penalty kick / drop goal | 5/2/3/3 | 4/2/2/1 |
Open play | The group tackle for the ball is accompanied by many scrums | One-on-one tackle. A defensive player tackles one attacking player, the group tackle is prohibited |
Most Popular Rugby Betting Markets
Popular rugby betting markets offer different outcomes of a match, on which the bookmaker sets odds and the bettor can place a bet. The wider the range of rugby markets, i.e. the number of rugby bets offered, the better. The best rugby betting sites on our list offer dozens of different Rugby 13s and Rugby Union markets to bet on. The types of rugby betting at online bookmakers don’t differ much from the options for most team sports. Among the rugby markets provided by the best rugby betting sites, you will also find:
Match winner
Betting on the final outcome is the most popular type of bet in many sports, including rugby. Most rugby betting fans, especially beginners, place this type of bet. This betting market is available at all UK rugby bookmakers without exception. The bettor needs to correctly predict the winner of the match or predict a draw – which is an extremely rare outcome in rugby, so rugby betting sites always offer high odds for it. On rugby betting sites, such markets are denoted by the symbols 1/X/2, where 1 stands for the first team’s win in the line (home team), X stands for a draw, and 2 stands for the second team’s win (away team). Other possible market name variations include the names of the teams or Home, Draw, and Away.
Handicap
Handicap betting implies the granting of a conditional advantage to one of the teams. In rugby betting on the UK best rugby betting sites, handicaps by points are the most popular market. The handicap indicator can be negative (on the favourite team) or positive (on the underdog), whole (if after adding or subtracting the indicator, the final score is equal, the bookmaker will return the stake amount) and fractional (clearly separates the win and loss). In the selections of betting events provided by rugby betting sites, the handicap is denoted by the name of the team, ordinal number, or the words Home and Away, and the handicap indicator is indicated next to it: for example, Home (-3.5) or Away (9).
Totals
In total betting (also known as Over/Under), the bettor needs to correctly predict whether there will be more or fewer specific events and indicators in the selected rugby match, such as points scored, tries, try conversions, shirt numbers, etc. This type of bet is suitable for those who do not want to choose a specific winner of the match. To win the bet, it is enough to correctly predict the number of indicators. On the pages of UK rugby betting sites, totals are denoted by the words Over or Under and a number. For example, Over 45.5 points, Under 61.5 shirt numbers.
Half-time/Full-time
This is a combined type of bet. To win it, you need to correctly predict the result of the first half and the overall outcome of the match. In total, the bookmaker offers nine types of bets: home win in the first half/home win in the match, draw in the first half/home win in the match, home win/draw in the match, and so on. On rugby betting sites, this type of bet is denoted by the symbols 1/X/ 2, or the words Home, Draw, Away, or the names of the teams, also through a fraction.
Tryscorers
Some rugby betting sites offer betting on the performance of specific players in rugby matches. The selections of sporting events provided by rugby betting platforms offer lists of the most predictable players, leaders in tries, or all possible participants in the match. In prop betting, the following options are available:
- First tryscorer. The rugby player who will score the first try in the match.
- Last tryscorer. The rugby player who will score the last try in the match.
- Anytime tryscorer. The rugby player who will score a try at any time during the match.
- 2+ tries. The rugby player who will score two or more tries.
- Hat-trick. The rugby player who will score exactly three tries in the match.
Major Rugby Competitions
Rugby World Cup
This is a relatively young competition; the first edition was only held in 1987, and now it is played every four years. There are 20 teams competing: 12 top-ranked teams from the previous cup, with another eight playing in the qualifying tournament. The most titled teams are New Zealand and South Africa, who have three championship wins each. The 2027 World Cup will be held in the USA. Curiously, the top 2 Rugby 15s ranking – Ireland and France – have never been world champions.
Team | Bet365 | 888Sport | Vbet | Parimatch | 10Bet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
France | 11/4 | 3/1 | 23/10 | 11/4 | 11/4 |
New Zealand | 3/1 | 3/1 | 5/2 | 3/1 | 3/1 |
Ireland | 4/1 | 4/1 | 16/5 | 4/1 | 7/2 |
South Africa | 9/2 | 9/2 | 15/4 | 5/1 | 9/2 |
England | 9/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 8/1 | 17/2 |
Best Rugby World Cup Betting Sites
Six Nations
The first edition was held in 1883, with only four teams involved: England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland – known as Home Nations. Since 1940, the French team has been playing in the tournament on a permanent basis, while in 2000, the first tournament with six teams was held, as Italy joined in. The teams compete in a round-robin format, where each team plays against every other team once. Aside from the main cup, there are several other awards. For example, the winner of all four matches wins the Grand Slam. A Home Nation, who has beaten three other national teams in the same tournament, is awarded the Three Crowns. The most titled team is England with 29 wins.
Team | Bet365 | William Hill | Ladbrokes | BoyleSports |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | 6/5 | 6/5 | 6/5 | 5/4 |
Ireland | 11/8 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 5/4 |
England | 6/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 |
Scotland | 16/1 | 16/1 | 14/1 | 16/1 |
Wales | 28/1 | 25/1 | 28/1 | 28/1 |
Best Six Nations Betting Sites
The Rugby Championship
This is another prestigious world tournament, it’s the equivalent of the Six Nations, only for the Southern Hemisphere. The strongest teams are Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Each team plays two matches against every other team. Besides the final trophy, there are special prizes in each match: the Bledisloe Cup (Australia vs New Zealand) and the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate (South Africa vs Australia). New Zealand holds the record for the most tournament wins, having emerged victorious 19 times.
Super Rugby
Super Rugby is a professional Rugby 15s club tournament for men, featuring teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. The competition originated from earlier Southern Hemisphere tournaments, like the South Pacific Championship in 1986. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition was split into three parts starting in 2021. The competition now includes clubs from Oceania, representing Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Team | Bet365 | Quinnbet | 10Bet | BoyleSports | William Hill |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 21/20 | 4/9 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 11/10 |
Blues | 11/4 | 11/10 | 11/4 | 3/1 | 11/4 |
Crusaders | 3/1 | 6/5 | 3/1 | 3/1 | 3/1 |
Hurricanes | 10/1 | 5/2 | 10/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 |
Brumbies | 10/1 | 21/10 | 10/1 | 12/1 | 10/1 |
Best Super League Betting Sites
Rugby Autumn Internationals
Every autumn the world’s Rugby giants – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina – come to Europe and play a few matches against Europe’s strongest teams.
Best Rugby Autumn Internationals Betting Sites
Rugby Betting Sites FAQs
How Do I Bet On Rugby?
Before you start betting, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research on the match or tournament. Check out the stats of the teams playing, look at their history of head-to-head matches, and see what their playing style is like and what their strengths are. All of this can help increase your chances of winning. In rugby, it’s rare for teams to finish a match without scoring points, so if you’re betting on a game where the favourite is expected to win by a lot, it might be a good idea to go for a higher total with better odds. Note that upsets are rare in rugby, and a clear favourite is extremely unlikely to be so bad as to lose.
What Are The Best Rugby Union Betting Sites?
Match.Center experts conducted a thorough study of the UK sports betting market to identify the best betting sites for Rugby 15s. They found, that the best rugby betting sites that offer the best rugby betting odds and selections of betting markets are Bet365, William Hill, Sky Bet, 888Sport.
What Are The Best Rugby League Betting Sites?
Rugby 13s is widely available on almost all UK rugby betting sites licenced by the Great Britain Gambling Commission, alongside Rugby 15s. As for the best rugby betting site that provides the best selection of tournaments, high odds, a wide range of Rugby League markets and special conditions for rugby betting, there are several of them, including such rugby betting platforms as 888Sport, BoyleSports, Quinnbet, and 10Bet.
What Is The Best Rugby Betting App?
The top Rugby 15s and Rugby 13s betting sites develop special mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. These apps let you not only enjoy rugby match betting but also get notifications about important events and even watch games via live video streaming. As for the best rugby betting site that provides some of the best rugby betting apps, there are also several of them, including William Hill, and 888Sport.
What Is The Difference Between Rugby Union and Rugby League?
Rugby 15s and Rugby 13s are similar sports with common roots, but with several significant differences in the rules. For example, in Rugby 15s, a team consists of 15 players on the field, while in Rugby 13s, there are only 13 players. Other differences include the ball’s design, the scoring system, the nature of tackles, the style of play, and more. You can find more information about these differences in the comparison of Rugby 15s and Rugby 13s section on the page above.