Rugby Union Betting

Rugby Union started out as a strictly amateur sport, a characteristic that was jealously protected from the formulation of its first set of rules in 1845 through its break with the Football Association in 1863 and the creation of a governing body, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), in 1871. Payment of players was the cause of a split that led to the formation of the Rugby League in 1895, while the RFU stuck to its stance on non-compensation.

Only a century later, in 1995, would the International Rugby Board (IRB) declare Rugby Union an “open sport,” with professionals openly paid to play, as opposed to the “shamateurism” that had evolved. Today, the IRB boasts 96 full-member Unions and half a dozen Regional Associations. Under its governance, the Rugby World Cup is conducted every four years—one of the three most popular sporting events in the world behind the Games of the Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup for football.

Unlike Rugby League, which created its own set of rules and simplified the scoring system, Rugby Union still plays the original 15-a-side, 80-minute game. Some say the difference between the two versions of the sport is that Rugby Union is a “contact sport,” while Rugby League is a “collision sport.” Both, in fact, are brutally punishing activities, requiring a high degree of stamina, athleticism, and courage of players.

The IRB is by no means mired in the past, however. In fact, most of the innovations that have occurred in rugby football over the past several decades have come from its influence. Among these are the rise of 7-a-side “Rugby Sevens,” the creation of a Women’s Rugby World Cup, the promotion of Tag Rugby and Beach Rugby, and the establishment of U20 and U18 Junior Championships to win young players to the sport. International test matches are arranged between national squads, too, to keep interest high.

In the United Kingdom, the English Premiership, also known colloquially as “The Jeff,” conducts a professional league competition for twelve clubs forming the top division of the national system. The clubs compete to qualify for Europe’s two most prestigious club competitions: the first-tier Heineken Cup and the second-tier European Challenge Cup. Other eligible clubs include the best of France, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland, and on some occasions, Portugal and Spain. Knock-out tournaments determine the winners.

Rugby Union betting is heaviest for the Cup events, with ante post wagers placed on potential winning sides even before the brackets have been filled. Ante post bets can also be placed on the teams of the Premiership, including which club will win the season outright, which will be relegated, and who will be the top tryscorer. Other interesting opportunities to stake include IRB International Player of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and so on.

Of course, match betting is popular during the season, picking a side to win straight up or taking a handicap on the underdog. First half leader, first tryscorer, first side to score, last side to score, winning margin, and other wagers are available, too, match by match. And many bookmakers offer in-running or live betting, to enable wagering as the game progresses, especially during major events. One sportsbook actually offered 70 different markets for the most recent Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England in 2007.

Of course, no discussion of Rugby Union can conclude without mention of the most famous international club of all time—New Zealand’s All Blacks. Anytime the team takes the field for their famous “'Timatanga Haka” or “Maori War Dance,” it is a certainty that the stands will be full and long queues will form at the betting windows.

Like Australia’s famed squad, the Wallabies, the All Blacks play their regular series of matches in the Southern Hemisphere. They take the field when the pitches of Europe are dark for the off-season, thus making Rugby Union betting possible all year round.