Best Rugby Betting Sites of 2024 - Best Odds and Offers

Whether you’re interested in Six Nations, Super League, or Rugby World Cup betting, these sites have got you covered. The best rugby betting sites offer competitive odds, a broad range of markets, rugby specific promotions, and in-play betting. We’ve ranked these sites according to our stringent criteria and can confidently say they're some of the safest, fairest, and most exciting options online. So, if you’re looking for your new favourite place to bet on rugby, you’re in the right place. We’ve got our top picks for rugby betting online, as well as tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your rugby bets.

Claudia Hartley
Claudia Hartley

Last Updated: 2024-09-18

A. Tzamantanis

9 minutes read

Top 3 Rugby Betting Sites

Betting on rugby is as fast-paced as the game itself, so you need a bookmaker who can keep up! Below are the best online betting sites for rugby.

How SportsBoom Rate & Review Bookmakers?

We have a team of experts with more than a century of betting experience behind them. So, we think it knows what it takes to make a great betting site! We have a long list of criteria that all sites have to pass. Then, we personally put them through their paces, before we recommend them to you. Let’s take a look at those all important criteria.

  1. Licence: All sites we recommend have a licence allowing them to operate legally. We also look for SSL encryption and responsible gambling tools to ensure player safety.

  2. Markets: We look for in-depth markets, including match winner, point spreads, player propers, and plenty more.

  3. Odds: Competitive odds are essential for a place on our rugby betting sites list.

  4. Bonuses: We don’t just check for juicy bonuses, we make sure the terms are fair too. Expect sensible wagering requirements, achievable expiry dates, and no mean win caps.

  5. Live Betting: Our sites should have live betting capabilities and ideally live streaming on some rugby matches as well.

  6. Extras: Whether its in-depth stats, fantasy rugby leagues, or something totally different, we like each site to have a special extra.

Best Rugby World Cup Betting Sites

The Rugby World Cup brings the planet’s greatest teams together for the ultimate showdown, expect endless markets, promos, and live betting.

Best Six Nations Betting Sites

Six Nations betting brings together Europe’s top national teams in a tournament format, offering endless markets and unique betting opportunities.

Best Super League Betting Sites

Rugby league fans enjoy comprehensive coverage in the Super League, with ample betting opportunities surrounding largely English and French sides.

Best Rugby Union Betting Sites

Featuring domestic and international matches, rugby union betting encompasses all of the biggest tournaments: Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, and more.

Best Rugby Betting Site For Bet Builders

There is great value to be found in bet builders. Enjoy creating same game parlays with ease and benefit from improved odds too.

Best Rugby Betting Site For Accumulators

Accumulators allow you to get creative with your bets, making multi-leg wagers that can greatly increase your potential payouts.

Best Rugby Betting Site For Odds Boosts

Researching a pick and feeling confident in it is great, but there’s nothing better than getting a surprise odds boost for it too!

Best Rugby Bookmaker for In-Play Betting

Betting on the action as it unfolds is fast and frenetic, so a betting site that’s quick to react is essential.

Best Rugby Betting App 

Betting on the go is essential, whether it’s from the comfort of your sofa, or from the stands watching a game.

The Main Difference Between Rugby Union and Rugby League 

While many of us enjoy betting on both rugby union and rugby league, there are some big differences. The main ones lie in their rules and game structure. 

Rugby union: features 15 players per team and emphasises contested possession. Set pieces like scrums and lineouts play a crucial role. Scoring is also more varied, including tries, conversions, penalty goals, and drop goals. 

Rugby league: has 13 players per team and focuses on a faster, more continuous style of play. It uses a tackle count system, with teams having six tackles to advance the ball before possession changes. Rugby league doesn’t have lineouts and it has smaller scrums. Scores are made through tries and goals. 

How to Bet on Rugby

Here are some tips on how to place a rugby bet online.

  1. 1

    Pick from our list of rugby betting sites, considering whether you’re looking for great odds, frequent bonuses, or a specific tournament.

  2. 2

    Make an account and complete the KYC process to make sure you can withdraw your winnings quickly.

  3. 3

    Make a deposit. If it’s helpful, you can set deposit limits in your account preferences to keep control of your bankroll.

  4. 4

    Head to the rugby betting markets and see what’s available. There’s rugby most of the year, including the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, and Super League.

  5. 5

    Choose the type of bet that you’d like to make. Match winner bets are most common, but total points, outright tournament winners, and try scorers are fun markets too.

  6. 6

    Once you’re happy, confirm your selection and enter your stake. You’ll see your potential payout listed.

  7. 7

    Keep an eye on the action, either through live streaming on the site, or live-play statistics. If you spot your team struggling then consider cashing out early.

Top Rugby Tournaments for Betting

Whether you’re looking for the best rugby league or best rugby union betting sites is up to you! These competitions cover both and offer some exciting betting options. 

Rugby World Cup

Held every four years, the Rugby World Cup features teams at their peak. New Zealand and South Africa are frequent favorites, with diverse betting opportunities on match outcomes and player performances.

Six Nations Championship

Home advantage is crucial in the Six Nations. You can explore unique markets like the Grand Slam and Triple Crown, while considering weather conditions and historical rivalries for strategic betting.

Rugby Championship

Featuring Southern Hemisphere teams, the Rugby Championship sees New Zealand often dominate. However, travel fatigue and fluctuating form create interesting opportunities for handicap betting and predicting unexpected outcomes.

European Rugby Champions Cup

This tournament showcases Europe’s top clubs, with French teams strong at home and English and Irish clubs excelling in knockouts. Explore markets on individual performances and team form throughout the competition.

European Rugby Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup often features squad rotations and surprise upsets. It’s an opportunity to bet on emerging players and underdog victories, adding excitement to matches with unpredictable outcomes.

National Rugby League (NRL)

The NRL is known for close, competitive games, ideal for handicap betting. With high-scoring matches and dynamic play, there are plenty of markets for try scorers and player performance.

Super League

Super League offers unique events like "Magic Weekend," where all teams play in one venue. Weather conditions and team form can greatly impact outcomes, making it a great league for varied betting options.

Safety and Security in Rugby Betting

It’s always advisable to bet at the safest rugby betting sites, but how do you find them? Below are some tips:

  1. Licence: always choose a site with a valid licence, this is the bare minimum when it comes to betting safely. A licence ensures they operate within the law and will afford you some basic protection too.

  2. Responsible Gambling Tools: all sites should offer responsible gambling tools, but it pays to look for those that go above and beyond. This shows they look out for and care about their customers, but it can also be helpful to you too. Deposit and loss limits can help you manage your bankroll while time notices and exclusion periods can help you regain control if you need to.

  3. Encryption: all sites should use SSL encryption on your personal data. It’s also worth looking for sites that offer payment methods that don’t require you to share your banking details.

Rugby Betting Markets

You’ll find a huge choice of markets at the best rugby betting sites. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular:

  1. Match Winner: Bet simply on which team will win!

  2. Handicap Betting: Which team will win, including a points advantage (or disadvantage).

  3. Total Points: Bet on the total number of points scored by both teams.

  4. First Try Scorer: Predict which player will score the first try in the match.

  5. Winning Margin: Bet on how much a team will win by.

  6. Outright Winner: Bet ahead of time on the overall winner of a tournament.

  7. Half-Time/Full-Time: Bet on the result at half-time and full-time.

FAQs

What is the spread in rugby league betting?

On most team sports, you can bet on the point spread. This is an amount set by the rugby betting site that they think the favourite team will win by. You can then decide whether you think the favourite will win and cover the spread, or you’d rather wager on the underdog.

Can you bet on rugby union?

Yes, absolutely! There are lots of rugby union betting sites. You’ll find odds for outright winners, as well as totals, and player props. Sportingbet is our top pick for rugby union betting thanks to its extensive coverage of domestic and international leagues. Plus, they offer excellent odds and the occasional promotion too.

What is handicap betting in rugby?

You’ll find handicap betting on all the best online rugby betting sites. This is where the sportsbook gives the team they think will win (the favourite) a disadvantage of a set number of points. Effectively, starting them off on minus points, so they need to perform even better to win.