The biggest bets ever placed on rugby

Physically demanding to play and exhilarating to watch, rugby matches often result in some truly unexpected and dramatic moments. With scores so unpredictable, it makes the sport a prime choice for sports betting where crazy outcomes are a regular occurrence. These are some of the largest bets ever placed on rugby matches around the world, with some people coming away happier than others.
Steve Richards’ Unfortunate Loss
56-year old Steve Richards, a roofing contractor from Wales, got extremely lucky when a £10 accumulator bet on the outcome of 12 football matches turned into a whopping £40,000. For most, that would be a life-changing amount of money, but Richards decided to gamble it further and just days later placed a £30,000 bet that Wales would beat Australia in the Rugby International. When Wales lost 30-26, the gambler’s luck ran out and he pocketed just £9,000 of his original winnings, proving sometimes it’s best to walk away with what you have than take the risk.
The Biggest Bet in New Zealand History
In 2015, a huge $400,000 bet was placed on the All Blacks to win the Rugby World Cup, making it the biggest bet in New Zealand’s history. The bet was shrouded in mystery, with the only thing known about the better being that they were from the North Island. The size of the bet was so vast that the punter had to wait overnight for the bank transfer to clear before being declared on at 8.30am the following morning. The close to half a million bet saw the punter claim a $140,000 in profit after the success of the game.
Halftime Bet Ends in Upset
At a 2016 semi-final game between Wellington and North Harbour, a punter lost an astounding $94,000 bet. The bet was in the hope of winning a $23,500 profit and was placed just three minutes before half-time for Wellington to win and qualify for the final, at which point Wellington were up 18-13. However, when North Harbour pulled it back and won, the gambler lost a massive amount of money.
A Year-Long Bet
Because of their great performance and reputation for excellence, the New Zealand All Blacks make for a popular team to bet on, both for punters looking to support them and for people who want to try their luck and prove others wrong. In 2016, a $100,000 bet was placed at the beginning of the rugby season, paying $1.50, for the champions to make history and not lose a single game all year. For one man, it meant that just a few games stood between him and a $150,000 pay out or a $100,000 loss, following an unbeaten streak of 18 straight wins at Eden Park. But sadly, he lost when they were defeated 40-29, ending an 111-year losing streak for Ireland.