Rugby Betting Strategy & Tips
The Basics of Rugby Union
Rugby is a strategic game played by 2 teams of 15 players each. The game consists of 2 halves. Each half lasts 40 minutes. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Teams score points through tries, conversion kicks and penalty kicks. Games can also end in a draw. As with a normal rugby game, so do you need a rugby betting strategy when you bet online.
Betting on Rugby Online
You can place rugby bets online or at a retail outlet. If you want to know which online bookies we recommend for betting on rugby why not have a look at our list of best online rugby betting sites in South Africa.
If you are unsure of what bets to place on rugby, have a look at some of our rugby betting tips below. We also explain some of the more popular bets and what each of them mean.
Rugby Tournaments to Bet on in South Africa
As South Africans, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to both local and international rugby matches and competitions to bet on.
The Currie Cup is the premier South African domestic rugby tournament consisting of 14 teams. Super Rugby is another great tournament where teams from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa battle it out. South Africa have 4 teams that participate in the tournament namely, Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
On top of the provincial competitions, South Africa (The Springboks) also participate in the Rugby Championship between The Bokke, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
So, as you can see, there are plenty of choice when it comes to rugby betting online.
Most Popular Online Rugby Bets
As with most sports, the main bets to place on a match are:
- Match Result
- Double Chance
- Halftime/Fulltime
- Odd or Even Total
- Half Time Result
- 1st Half – Double Chance
- Highest Scoring Half
Most of these bets are self-explanatory. The ones you might be questioning are probably, Double Chance and 1st Half Double Chance.
A double chance bet allows you to cover two of the three possible outcomes in a match placing a single bet. These include: Home team and draw – Your bet is a winner if the home team wins or draws the match. Away team and draw – Your bet is a winner if the away team wins or draws the match.
A 1st Half – Double Chance bet is similar to the standard Double Chance bet, but the result is based on the home team leading at half time or the scores are tied or the away team is leading or scores are tied.
Other popular bets also include, winning margin, first team or player to score or first scoring play. First scoring play refers to the way the scoring is opened through a try, penalty try, drop goal, or penalty – a bet on the first scoring play is an interesting market to dabble in. A penalty has the lowest odds, and for good reason.
For the more adventurous punter, you can now also place a bet on live matches. In play betting allows you to place a bet on events such as next team to score or next try scorer or even who will knock the ball on next. The possibilities are endless.
Rugby Betting Strategy
The most successful teams are the ones who execute their strategy the best. If you are planning on betting on rugby online, you will also need a strategy and execute it well.
Below we have shared a few points on creating a rugby betting strategy & tips.
Knowledge is king, know your teams
Every team has its strengths and weaknesses, you should know these. Read up about your team’s opponents and past results. This will assist you in making more informed decisions on the type of bets to place.
Watch the weather
Usually rugby gets played in the winter months. Almost all the stadiums are open and as such the weather can drastically change the way teams play the game. Slippery pitches, a wet ball, these factors can easily change the game to a low scoring affair. These are critical information for your margin bets.
News & Updates
Keep an eye on team selection, injuries, and last-minute changes. Teams can plan for almost everything, but injuries can happen at any time. An injury to your best player or impact player can easily have a negative impact on the game plans.
Know Your Betting Markets
Whether you are betting on the attacking team or the defensive team, be sure to know your markets. If the team you are backing statistically concede points first, why would you back them for scoring first. Look at the odds, if its too good to be true, usually it is.
Know Your Team’s Form
Both the Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments cover a long period of time. Teams will most likely improve as they progress through the tournament while playing week on week. As such, the form of your team will tell you a lot about their possible performance. Use this knowledge when placing your bets.
The Rugby Championship consists of only a few matches. The tournament also comes after a lengthy international break and as such, with teams not having played together means form does not always carry a lot of weight going into the match.
Stick to your Rugby Betting Strategy
If you are going for high risk quick wins or low risk small wins, stick to your rugby betting strategy.
You might go through some unlucky spells, that’s normal, but don’t start chasing your losses. If you use the data available to you and place sensible bets, your best should come off.
If the odds seem too good to be true, again they probably are, longshot bets seldom come off, but this does not mean you shouldn’t place them from time to time. Who would have thought Japan would make it to the quarter finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Lastly, create and stick to your betting budget. Managing your spending is key to enjoying your online betting experience.
Rugby Betting Strategy & Tips – final words
Betting online on rugby is fun and easy. Whether you are a new player or a seasoned punter, there is a bet for everyone.
Most online bookies offer a great selection of bets on both local and international rugby matches and tournaments. You should look around for the best odds for the type of bets you would like to place. If you don’t find a bet that you like, some bookies also offer a create a bet option where you can submit your own bet.
Creating and following a betting strategy is key to enjoying your online betting experience. We are all for fun, but when the fun stops, please stop. Stick to your budget and don’t chase your losses.
