Betting on Rugby in South Africa 2023

In this comprehensive guide, Match.Center experts delve into the world of rugby betting in South Africa for 2023. We'll provide you with essential information on 5 best rugby betting sites in South Africa, how to bet on rugby, an overview of popular rugby betting markets, live rugby betting, and available bonuses on the best rugby betting sites in South Africa. 

Best 5 SA Rugby Betting Sites

How to Bet on Rugby in South Africa

From all rugby betting sites, we take Betfred as an example, because this rugby betting site has interesting functionality. Having tried and tested this rugby betting platform, Match.Center experts have found it useful for placing more informed bets. Perhaps our approach will appeal to you too.

Explore Rugby Betting Markets

To start betting on rugby with the Betfred rugby betting platform, first navigate to the rugby section on the site. Utilise the user-friendly filters to find matches, markets to bet on, or specific time frames. Get familiar with various bet types such as handicaps, total points, and outrights. Moreover, you can add your favourite rugby teams to a list for quick access to information on their upcoming matches.

Utilise Statistics

Betfred is one of the rugby betting sites that offers detailed Sportradar statistics for Rugby Union and Rugby League matches. Analyse team performance, head-to-head records, and player stats to make more informed betting decisions. These insights can help you place well-thought-out bets on your chosen rugby matches and betting markets.

Example: How to read stats to find value in rugby betting markets

Let's take a look at the Rugby World Cup 2019 quarter-final match between Japan and South Africa, which took place on 20th October 2019. Withing that Rugby World Cup, Japan had surprised everyone with their performance, winning all four of their pool matches. South Africa, on the other hand, had a strong team with a rich history in rugby.

By utilising Sportradar statistics, a rugby bettor could have analysed the rugby teams' previous performances, head-to-head records, and individual rugby player stats to make a more informed decision. In the past five meetings between the two rugby teams, South Africa had won four matches, while Japan had claimed one victory. Additionally, Japan had a 100% win rate in the Rugby World Cup so far, whereas South Africa had lost one match.

However, a deeper look into the stats would reveal that South Africa had a significantly stronger defence, conceding fewer points per game compared to Japan. Moreover, the Springboks had a more dominant forward pack, which would likely give them an advantage in scrums and lineouts. Considering these factors, a rugby bettor could have predicted that South Africa would be able to control the game through their forward dominance and eventually wear down Japan's defence.

Monitor Odds and Market Movements

Keeping track of rugby betting odds changes for desired rugby betting markets can help you identify optimal rugby betting opportunities. With Betfred, you can add rugby betting markets to your favourites list for easy monitoring. This allows you to place bets on rugby at the right moments to maximise your potential returns.

Example: rugby betting odds shifting value bets

Let's take the example of the Six Nations rugby match between England and Scotland on 6th February 2021. This match marked the 150th anniversary of the Calcutta Cup, and expectations were high for both teams.

In the days leading up to the game, England were the clear favorites, with betting odds reflecting their dominant performance in the previous edition of the Six Nations and a strong squad. However, on the morning of the rugby match, it was announced that England prop Mako Vunipola would be unavailable due to injury. This news had a significant impact on the team's scrummaging strength and overall forward pack.

As a result of this unexpected development, the rugby betting odds for a Scotland win started to shorten. A rugby bettor who had been monitoring rugby betting odds and market movements would have noticed this sudden shift and could have taken advantage of the changing rugby betting odds by placing a bet on Scotland to win at a more favorable price.

Place Your Rugby Bets

Once you've selected a rugby match and market to bet on, enter your stake and confirm the bet. Be sure to monitor the progress of the match and the outcomes of your bets. This can help you refine your rugby betting strategy over time.

Learn from Your Betting Experience

Regularly reviewing your betting history and performance can lead to improved results. Identify strengths and weaknesses in your rugby betting strategy to make any necessary adjustments. Continuously refining your approach to rugby betting can enhance your overall rugby betting experience and success.

Rugby Betting Markets

Match Result

The match result betting market is the most basic bet type in rugby betting. Rugby punters can bet on one of the three possible outcomes: a home win, draw, or an win.

Handicap Betting

In rugby, the difference in team quality can sometimes be enormous, making betting on the match winner unappealing due to minimal odds. Handicap betting levels the playing field by assigning a virtual advantage or disadvantage to the teams. This way, even if the stronger team wins, the bet might still be successful if the weaker team covers the handicap (or cover the spread). In rare cases, rugby betting sites might not offer winner betting odds at all, and punters can only bet on the winner with a handicap.

There are different types of handicaps available on rugby betting sites, such as regular handicaps, 3-way handicaps, and tries handicaps.

Total Points Betting

This betting market implies predicting whether the combined points scored by both teams in a rugby match will be over or under a specified number. On rugby betting sites, punters can also bet on the team total points market, which focuses on the points scored by one team. Factors to consider when betting on total points include the teams' physical shape, weather conditions, and the playing styles of both teams.

Tryscorer Betting

This betting market focuses on the players who score tries in a rugby match. On betting sites, punters can bet on the first tryscorer, last tryscorer, or any time tryscorer. These bets can offer attractive odds and add excitement to the match, as they are directly tied to individual player performances.

Special Rugby Bets

Special rugby bets cater to unique aspects of the game, offering punters more betting options. Examples include winning margin bets, which involve predicting the point difference between the teams, points range bets, where you bet on a range of possible total points, and half-time/full-time results, where you predict the outcome of both halves.

Outright Betting

Outright betting involves placing bets on the outcome of a tournament or league. On betting sites, popular outright markets in rugby include betting on tournament winners, top try scorers, or top points scorers. These bets can offer higher odds and provide long-term engagement with a competition.

Combination Bets

Combination bets, also known as accumulators, involve selecting multiple bets to create a single wager. These bets can lead to higher potential returns, as the odds are multiplied together. Common rugby combination bets include match result and total points, which require punters to predict both the winner and the total points scored in a match.

Best Bookmakers By Categories

Betway is one of the best overall rugby betting sites in South Africa, offering a comprehensive range of markets and competitive odds for both Rugby Union and Rugby League matches, making it a top choice for fans looking to bet on rugby events like the Rugby World Cup and 6 Nations. Betway excels in providing a variety of payment methods, making it one of the most convenient rugby betting sites for South African fans looking to deposit and withdraw funds quickly and securely. Also, this betting site leads the pack in rugby betting markets variety, giving bettors an impressive range of betting options for every match, from standard markets like match result and handicap betting to special options like tryscorer bets.

Palacebet stands out among other best rugby betting sites for its exclusive rugby promotions, which provide extra incentives for bettors interested in wagering on rugby matches, including special offers and bonuses tailored specifically to rugby fans.

Gbets is on of the betting sites that is known for offering some of the top rugby betting odds on the market, which allows bettors to maximise their potential returns when placing bets on Rugby Union and Rugby League games, including high-profile events like the Rugby World Cup. Gbets shines in the outright coverage category, offering extensive betting options for predicting overall tournament winners and other long-term outcomes, from 6 Nations to the South African domestic rugby competitions.

Betfred is a top rugby betting site for statistics, offering detailed Sportradar data for both Rugby Union and Rugby League matches, helping bettors make more informed decisions when placing their bets.

Hollywoodbets is the go-to rugby betting site for boosted odds, offering enhanced prices on selected rugby matches and markets, giving bettors the opportunity to secure better returns on their wagers for events in South Africa and beyond.

Live Rugby Betting

Live rugby betting, also known as in-play betting, allows punters to place bets on matches as they unfold. This dynamic form of betting provides an opportunity to take advantage of changing odds and situations within the game. As matches progress, odds can fluctuate based on factors such as injuries, yellow and red cards, or team momentum. Live betting enhances the excitement of watching rugby, as punters can react to events in real-time and make informed decisions.

Many betting sites offer live rugby betting, though not all provide live streaming of the matches. The table below summarises the live betting and streaming capabilities of five popular bookmakers for rugby enthusiasts in South Africa:

Payment Methods for Betting on Rugby

The three most popular payment methods among South African bookmakers are debit/credit cards, vouchers, and instant EFTs like OZOW. When betting on rugby, it's important to choose a bookmaker that offers convenient and secure payment methods.

Debit and credit cards are widely accepted and are the most straightforward way to fund your betting account. Most bookmakers accept Visa and Mastercard, ensuring that your transactions are secure and protected by your bank's security measures.

Vouchers, such as OTT and 1VOUCHER, provide an alternative way to deposit funds into your betting account. They can be purchased at various retail outlets, like Caltex Fresh Stop, Makro, Game, or Boxer stores. Once you have the voucher, you can enter its code on the bookmaker's website to deposit funds.

OZOW is an instant Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) service that allows you to make quick and secure transfers directly from your bank account. This service is gaining popularity among South African bettors due to its speed and convenience.

The table below lists the payment methods accepted by the top bookmakers for rugby betting in South Africa:

Bonuses for Betting on Rugby

Rugby enthusiasts can take advantage of various betting bonuses offered by bookmakers. Most types of bonuses can be wagered on rugby, except those tied to a specific sport, which in South Africa is typically football. Several popular bookmakers provide rugby-specific promotions and bonuses for their customers.

Gbets, for example, offers a no-deposit bonus. The R50 bonus is credited the following day at 7 AM and must be wagered three times at odds of 2/1 or greater. The bonus money can only be used for single bets. Hollywoodbets also provides a no-deposit bonus, which includes a R25 sign-up bonus and additional 50 Free spins for new clients. Palacebet has a special rugby bonus called the "Try Time Promotion", which awards a R250 Try Time Free Bet when you wager R1,000 on any rugby match at minimum odds of 1.7.

Other bookmaker bonuses include:

The table below summarises the bonuses offered by the best rugby betting sites in South Africa:

Frequently Asked Questions