The 2023 Rugby Championship is set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated renewals of the tournament as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa prepare for the Rugby World Cup in France in September.
As in previous Rugby World Cup years, the Rugby Championship has been reduced to just three rounds of matches, and all four nations will be aiming for solid performances in preparation for France.
The action kicks off on Saturday, 8 July, with the last round of games scheduled for Saturday, 29 July. And we’ve looked closely at what to expect in our Betting on the Rugby Championship – The Complete Guide.
- 2023 Rugby Championship Structure
- Odds to Win
- Rugby Championship Predictions
- The Top Five Tips for Successful Rugby Championship Betting
- Top Bookmakers for Rugby Championship Betting
- Rugby Championship Bet Types
- Similar Tournaments to the Rugby Championship
- The History of the Rugby Championship
- Rugby Championship FAQs
2023 Rugby Championship Structure
As it is a Rugby World Cup year, the 2023 Rugby Championship will be played in a reduced format, with each nation playing the others once.
The fixtures are as follows:
Round 1
Saturday, 8 July – South Africa v Australia
Saturday, 8 July – Argentina v New Zealand
Round 2
Saturday, 15 July – New Zealand v South Africa
Saturday, 15 July – Australia v Argentina
Round 3
Saturday, 29 July – Australia v New Zealand
Saturday, 29 July – South Africa v Argentina
Odds to Win
Rugby Championship Predictions
The 2023 Rugby Championship looks like a wide-open affair as teams build towards the Rugby World Cup in France. New Zealand are the current holder but face two challenging away games against Argentina and Australia, while South Africa benefits from two home matches.
Home advantage is key in the Rugby Championship, so it could well be the Springboks who lift the trophy this year.
The Top Five Tips for Successful Rugby Championship Betting
Betting on the Rugby Championship can be a fun and exciting way to enjoy the tournament, and we have compiled a list of our top five tips for successful Rugby Championship betting.
⭐ Study the Teams & Players
It’s essential to understand the teams and players involved in the Rugby Championship, including current form and injury news. Missing a key player can significantly affect a side’s chances of victory, so keep up to date with the latest news.
⭐ Compare Odds
With a wide range of bookmakers offering odds on the Rugby Championship, it’s vital you compare odds before placing a bet. An odds comparison website lets you quickly compare the odds across several bookmakers, ensuring you get the best price for your bet.
⭐ Bet With Your Head
New Zealand may be your team, but that doesn’t mean you have to bet on them blindly every time they play. It’s important to remain objective and base your rugby union bets on logical analysis rather than personal bias. This will assist you in making better decisions and improve your chances of success.
⭐ Look at Alternative Markets
While traditional betting markets such as match winner may be the most popular, a wide range of alternative markets are available for Rugby Championship betting. These include handicap betting, total points in the game, and first-try scorer. So explore these alternative markets to see if anything catches your eye that you feel offers betting value.
⭐ Bankroll
Managing your money is crucial for any successful betting strategy. So set a budget for your Rugby Championship betting and stick to it, regardless of if you win or lose. Avoid chasing losses, and never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.
Top Bookmakers for Rugby Championship Betting
In this section, we check out the top bookmakers for Rugby Championship betting and what they have to offer players.
Betway
Betway is an excellent choice for betting on the Rugby Championship, mainly due to the Betway Rugby Club.
Members of the club receive a $5 free bet every week when they place a $20 wager on rugby the previous week. At the same time, new Betway customers can claim up to a $60 free bet in the build-up to the Rugby Championship.
In addition, Betway offers competitive betting odds and a wide range of betting markets on every Rugby Championship match, including live betting. And for those looking to bet when out and about, the Betway app is available for iOS and Android users, allowing you to enjoy Rugby Championship betting on your mobile device.
William Hill
William Hill is one of the most well-known global betting brands and is an excellent choice for betting on the Rugby Championship.
A wide range of betting markets and best odds are available for the tournament, while new players can enjoy a $20 free bet welcome bonus. And William Hill also offer some excellent ongoing promotions, including Acca Freedom which allows you to boost your returns on a winning Acca or insure your Acca if one selection lets down your bet.
If you prefer to bet in-play, William Hill offers live betting on every match during the Rugby Championship, and this feature is accessible through their highly-rated mobile site and app.
Pinnacle
Pinnacle is a well-established sportsbook popular, providing some of the best odds in online sports betting, including rugby union.
For punters interested in Rugby Championship betting, Pinnacle is the top choice, offering a vast range of betting markets that includes a strong focus on handicap betting with multiple spreads and high limits.
Pinnacle don’t offer a welcome bonus or ongoing promotions, but they are hard to point fault at with their ultra-competitive odds.
In-play betting fans are also well covered, with the excellent Live Centre providing valuable statistics and analysis – perfect for live betting on rugby union.
Betiton
Betiton is a relatively new online sportsbook that has quickly gained popularity among punters in New Zealand and is an ideal destination for Rugby Championship betting.
They offer a broad range of sports and betting markets, including a fantastic selection on the Rugby Championship, all accessible through their website and a user-friendly mobile app.
Competitive Rugby Championship betting odds and various promotions are also available, including a $10 free bet offer for new players.
So if you’re not yet a Betiton player, now is a great time to sign-up for a sportsbook that provides an excellent betting experience for rugby punters.
10bet
10bet is an online sports betting platform that has been in operation since 2003, and they cover a wide range of sports, including Rugby Championship betting.
One of the most popular features of 10bet is its extensive live betting coverage. They provide live streaming and in-play betting options, allowing punters to place bets while the action occurs. This feature adds to the betting excitement and can increase the chances of landing a winning bet.
New players can also enjoy a 50% matched bonus up to $50, perfect for using on the Rugby Championship action. In addition, there are also several ongoing promotions, including cash bonuses on winning Accas.
888sport
888sport is a popular online betting site offering competitive odds and covering various sports, including rugby.
They provide excellent Rugby Championship betting coverage with various betting markets, including match winner, total points, handicap betting, and many more.
Live betting is also available at 888sport, allowing punters to place bets as the game unfolds
while keeping track of the action in real-time.
Additionally, 888sport provides some excellent promotions and bonuses. These include a $30 free bet, and $10 casino bonus for all new customers and a fantastic ongoing offer that sees you awarded a $5 free bet if you back a winner at 4/1 or bigger.
Stake
Stake.com is a new online sports betting platform that is a popular site with players who wish to wager with cryptocurrency. However, they also offer traditional payment methods and the function to purchase crypto if you desire.
They provide excellent coverage of the Rugby Championship with competitive odds on offer, particularly on handicap betting.
Live betting is available through the Rugby Championship, allowing you to dive into the in-play betting and pacing a wager while the action is underway. And if you’re looking to lock in some profit or minimise your potential loss, Stake.com offers cash-out on most betting markets.
And a generous 200% deposit bonus offer and a great range of ongoing promotions are on offer for New Zealand players.
Rugby Championship Bet Types
The Rugby Championship offers a wide range of betting markets to check out, and some of the most popular include:
🏅 Outright Winner
This involves placing a bet on the nation that will come out on top and win the 2023 Rugby Championship.
🏅Match Outcome
A bet on the result of a single match in the Rugby Championship, with options including team A winning, team B winning, or the game ending in a draw.
🏅 Handicap Betting
This type of bet involves giving or taking away points from each team and is popular when there is a clear favourite in the match outcome market. For example, Argentina may receive 15 points from South Africa, meaning South Africa would need to win by 16 points or more to cover the handicap.
🏅 Margin of Victory
This bet sees you choose the winning team and the points they will win by. For instance, a bettor might predict that New Zealand will beat Australia by a margin of 5 to 10 points.
🏅 Rugby Championship Live Betting
Some punters opt to place pre-match wagers on the Rugby Championship, while others enjoy the thrill of live betting on the action. Live betting allows you to watch the action unfold before placing a bet. And the good news is that live betting is available on all Rugby Championship games.
Similar Tournaments to the Rugby Championship
The Six Nations is the northern hemisphere equivalent of the Rugby Championship. It sees England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales playing annually, and Ireland are the current Six Nations champions.
The History of the Rugby Championship
The Rugby Championship was formerly known as the Tri-Nations and came into being in 1996, involving Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Argentina joined the competition in 2012, and it was renamed the Rugby Championship.
A typical year sees each nation play the other sides home and away, but as this is a Rugby World Cup year, the 2023 tournament has been reduced to just three rounds of matches.
New Zealand are the most successful nation in the tournament – the All Blacks have won the title on 19 occasions.
Rugby Championship FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Rugby Championship.
The 2023 Rugby Championship will occur across three weekends in July, with matches in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
New Zealand won the 2022 Rugby Championship, the 19th time they have won the tournament.
The Rugby Championship is an annual tournament that typically takes place between July and September.
Yes, Rugby Championship betting is extremely popular with punters, and the leading bookmakers offer a range of pre-match and in-play betting options on every game
The Rugby Championship sees four countries participating – Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
