Different countries like different sports and it does not mean that a popular sporting activity is equally big in all corners of the globe.
While some like football, basketball, or tennis are widely appreciated and followed, others like cricket, for example, are big in a select few countries that adore them. It is even their national sport.
In the case of rugby, it is a different story because other similar sports exist that are often either confused or equated to it.
For example, there is not one singular type. It can be used in general as an umbrella term, but there are actually two different codes. The first is league football or just league, and the other is union. In this article, we focus on the former.
For the fans of the sport, it is important to which strain you are referring when talking about rugby. Once part of one and the same Rugby Football Union (RFU), there was a major split about payments to players as well as other disputes.
Therefore, two different varieties of the sport exist with different rules, leagues, and professional teams. Right here and now, we focus on rugby league and talk about betting on it. If you are in need of a new sport to add to your wagering tickets, this may be it, so make sure to check out some of the best odds on Rugby League and get it going.
About Rugby League
So what is this type of rugby exactly and where is it mostly played? The league variety is a very fast-paced contact sport that evolved in the late 19th century in England. Its thrilling pace and complexity in tactics make it a fun watch as well as a worthwhile betting investment. Two teams of thirteen players play with the objective being to score points by carrying the ball over the goal line or kicking it through goalposts. Easy enough and quite similar to the NFL, or regular football/soccer for that matter.
Likewise, there are two halves, each 40 minutes with a brief break between them. The unique gameplay element and system that makes it fun is the tackle count system. Each team is allowed a maximum of six tackles to advance the ball. There is something called “scrum” that restarts the play after minor disputes. Overall, it is a fun game and a good sport to get deeply invested in, especially if you are already a fan of a similar sport. Drawing parallels and discussing which is more difficult or how close they are makes for intriguing fan discussions.
Where Is It Played?
Countries where rugby league is adored and considered one of the national sports include Australia, England, New Zealand, and France. It is also very big in several Pacific Islands like Papua New Guinea and Samoa. There, it is a cultural thing apart from being a favorite pastime activity. Australia is home to the National Rugby League, one of, if not the most competitive leagues globally. The sport is a part of Australia’s identity and culture particularly in Queensland and New South Wales.
In England, the Rugby Football League oversees the matches and all of it has a long and rich history. In the country, the top tier competition is The Super League, one of the best in the world. New Zealand is famous for its strong national team that is always at the top, nicknamed the Kiwis. It is without any doubt one of the biggest sports on the islands. In France, rugby union is more popular but rugby league garners a considerable following as well. The south of the country is especially interested in it.
How Does Betting Work?
Most of the national leagues are over right now, but there are two fun games coming up, both in the Pacific Championship Cup. On Saturday, November 2, New Zealand is playing Tonga and is the favorite. The odds on them are 1.5 while Tonga has theirs at 3. On Sunday, November 3, Papua New Guinea is the absolute favorite with 1.11 over Cook Islands’ odds of 9. But what bets should you place?
As with other sports, the match winner is the easiest and most common bet. If you are feeling more confident, pick the over/under bet for the total points or the point spread handicap betting. Betting on who scores first is also interesting, as is the winning margin, between 1 and 6 or 7 and 12 points for example. Make sure to study the teams a bit before picking your bet and do a little bit of research about their recent form and head-to-head scores.
