This year is a massive year for rugby with the upcoming
World Cup in Japan, but for punters to get a good grip on the sport they must
understand the differences between the codes. Regardless of the code, betting
on the sport has become more and more popular over recent years, but it is in
the main competitions when it is more prominent. But first, let’s explore the
differences between Union and League.
Rugby Union
The two teams both consist of 15 players and the game last
for 80 minutes; with 40 minutes each half. The primary aim of the game is to
get the ball beyond the opposition’s try-line. If a team can do this, then they
score five points. After a team has recorded a try, they get the opportunity of
kicking a conversion through the posts to add an additional two points. The
kick is taken in-line to where the ball touched the floor for the try; however,
the distance that the kicker takes the shot is totally dependent on them.
The ball can’t be passed forwards, and the defending team
will try and hold off the threat of the attacking team by tackling them to the
floor. If the attacker falls to the ground after being tackled, then a ruck is
formed, while if they remain on their feet, then it is called a maul. After an
infringement has taken place such as an offside decision, tackling above the
shoulders or knocking the ball forward; the opposing team can have the
opportunity to either kick the ball downfield for a line-out or choose to form
a scrum. The options that the team have depend on the infringement that
occurred.
Rugby League
Of course, there are similarities
between the two codes, such as the length or the game and how a team scores
points in order to win the fixture. However, it’s the differences in the sport
that punters should be aware of when they are researching ahead of big fixtures
or significant competitions. League is widely considered a quicker-paced game
than Union, and whereas a try is worth five points in Union; in League, a team
that scores a try is awarded four points. Conversions are worth the same amount
of points, while a drop goal is worth one point in League as opposed to the
three that are awarded in Union.
While the length of the game is the same; in League, there
are only 13 players on each team. The most significant difference between the
codes is the rules after a tackle. There are no rucks or mauls; instead, the
tackled player retains possession and rolls the ball back to a teammate using
their foot. In League, teams also have a time limit in which they are allowed
to keep possession, with players only allowed to be tacked six times before
turning over the possession. Furthermore, there are no line-outs in League;
instead, the teams contest a scrum when the ball goes out.
Rugby Betting Options
While the sports are different from each other in terms of
rules, they do however have common betting markets. The most significant events
in both codes are the ones that most punters choose to stake their money.
Handicap Markets
Handicap bets in rugby work the same as any other sports. It
is the bookie’s way of levelling the playing field. The handicap essentially
gives the underdog in the match a head start that the favoured team has to
overcome. In rugby, this would provide the favoured team with a negative
starting position, so if the handicap is -12, then the favoured team will have
to win by at least 13 points for the bet to be a winning one (source).
It is the best way to bet on the favoured team to ensure maximum returns on
bets. The difference in quality between New Zealand, Wales and England far outweigh
the qualities of sides such as Italy and Japan, which means the handicap
market, is the better option when these teams face each other.
Outright Betting
The most common way for punters to stake their money is on
the outright markets. This is simply where gamblers bet on the outright winner
of an event. The most common markets in Union for this type of betting is the
World Cup, Six Nations and Aviva Premiership. The latter of which is a club
competition. For League, the most popular events for outright betting options
are the World Cup and the domestic leagues in Australia and the United Kingdom,
which are the NRL and Super League, respectively. For the club competitions,
punters can lay stakes on the team that they believe will win the title and the
team that they think will be relegated.
The Rugby Union World Cup offers the most amount of outright
markets for punters to bet on. As well as placing a stake on the team that they
believe will end the competition as the winner; Sky Bet allow bets on a specific
team to reach the final, semi-final or quarterfinal stage. Along with this, the
same bookmaker also enables punters to lay a stake on the top try scorer in the
competition and the teams that will compete in the final. The current favourite
in the latter market is New Zealand vs Ireland at 5/1.
1X2 Betting
Away from the outright markets, most punters would typically
lay a stake on a single bet to ensure that there is entertainment to had in the
fixture regardless of if their team isn’t taking part. The 1X2 market is
considered the most straightforward way to place a bet, and even novices will
catch onto how it works very quickly. This type of market is common across an
array of sports such as football and ice hockey, but it can be incredibly
lucrative for rugby fans.
For instance, if Wales are facing Ireland, the team that is
the home team will be ‘1’ while the away team will be ‘2’. The ‘X’ signifies a
draw, but due to the rarity of the result in rugby league or Union, this is
typically the highest price of all three options. If you have placed a stake on
Wales or ‘1’ for this matter, then the bet will be a winning one if they beat
Ireland. It is simple.
Totals Betting
In rugby league, the most common ways of placing a bet is on
the total points scored. Bookmakers will simply ask whether there will be over
or under 30.5 points in the match. As the punter, you would then decide whether
you will place your stake on the match consisting of more or fewer points than
the bookmaker is asking. It is a very straightforward way of betting, and the
winning team doesn’t affect whether your bet is a winner or not. If you place
your stake on the match consisting of over 30.5 points, then there must be 31
points for your bet to be a winning one.
Prop Bets
The prop bets markets are for punters who have done thorough
research beforehand and are well-read on all factors concerning both teams.
Markets that you could find included in this sector include the team to score
the first try, time of the first try and first team to score. There are various
prop bets available on many bookie website, and they can be incredibly
lucrative if the punter has done the adequate research beforehand.
