Twenty nations head to France this year to battle it out in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the tournament getting underway on Friday 8th September when the hosts face New Zealand in Paris.
This year’s Rugby World Cup is hotly-anticipated and is one of the most open looking. Several nations seem to have a real chance of lifting the trophy. South Africa are the current holders after winning the William Webb Ellis trophy for the third time in 2019 when they defeated England in the final in Japan.
We’ll take you through how to make the most of Rugby World Cup betting in this guide.
- Competing Nations
- Rugby World Cup Betting Explained
- Who Will Win the Rugby Union World Cup?
- Top Bookmakers for Rugby World Cup Betting
- Rugby World Cup Bet Types
- Rugby World Cup Live Betting
- Betting on Rugby World Cup Final
- Top Five Tips for Successful Betting on Rugby Union World Cup
- The History of the Rugby World Cup
- FAQs
Competing Nations
The complete list of nations competing in the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the pools in which they find themselves are:
Pool A
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Uruguay
- Namibia
Pool B
- South Africa
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Tonga
- Romania
Pool C
- Wales
- Australia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Portugal
Pool D
- England
- Japan
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Chile
Each team will play the other four in their pool with the top two nations qualifyig for the quarter-finals. From there, it’s a straight knockout tournament until the final in Paris. Every 2023 Rugby World Cup fixture will be broadcast live. This will allow plenty of opportunities to enjoy a bet on the action.
Rugby World Cup Betting Explained
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will take place over the course of 6 weeks. It will provide a feast of rugby action for fans to enjoy betting on. With the leading nations from the northern and southern hemispheres clashing, there will be some monumental matches as all 20 countries try to get their hands on the trophy.
If you want to partake in Rugby World Cup betting, read on as we explore the top Rugby World Cup bookmakers and bet types, plus some helpful tips on enjoying the action.
Who Will Win the Rugby Union World Cup?
This year’s Rugby Union World Cup looks like a wide-open tournament with several nations with a genuine chance of lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy. However, with the benefit of home advantage, 2023 could finally be France’s year.
Les Bleus have lost in the final three times before, but they possess a young but streetwise squad that can finally see them taste Rugby World Cup success for the first time.
Top Bookmakers for Rugby World Cup Betting
All leading bookmakers will provide full betting coverage of the Rugby World Cup, and we’ve highlighted the top ones you should check out before and during the tournament.
Betway – Get a free sports bet of up to $60
Betway are one of the leading bookmakers in New Zealand for Rugby World Cup betting, and new players can grab a free sports bet to use on the tournament worth up to $60.
With plenty of group matches to enjoy during the tournament, Acca bets are sure to be popular, and Betway have an excellent Free Bet Club that sees you receive two $10 free bets every week if you place $50 in Acca bets.
Aside from this, Betway will offer competitive odds on all matches at the Rugby World Cup coupled with specific odds boosts, so check out their site throughout the tournament.
William Hill – Bet $20 and get $20 in free bets
William Hill are a global name in online sports betting, and they are an excellent site to check out if you’re looking to try your hand at Rugby World Cup betting. The live betting centre at William Hill offers players a superb experience – bringing in-play betting together with live stats and analysis, so you don’t miss out on any of the rugby action.
If you’re a fan of placing Accas on rugby, then William Hill have a fantastic promotion that allows you to either boost the odds on your Acca or insure your bet against one selection letting you down. New players in New Zealand can grab themselves a $20 free bet when they join and bet $20.
Pinnacle – Competitive Rugby World Cup betting odds
Pinnacle are a respected brand in the world of online sports betting, and they offer some of the most competitive rugby odds that you’ll find anywhere, with significant limits on all betting markets.
Most bookmakers will offer three or four handicap spreads on a match at the Rugby World Cup, but Pinnacle will provide over 10 to give you a wide choice regarding your bets. They do not offer a welcome bonus or ongoing promotions, but the competitive odds and high limits make up for this.
The Live Centre at Pinnacle brings live betting live plus stats and analysis of every Rugby World Cup game, and they also provide match previews and betting tips in the Betting Resource Centre.
With a user-friendly website and betting app, make sure Pinnacle is one of your preferred Rugby World Cup betting sites.
Rugby World Cup Bet Types
There is a vast range of betting markets on every game throughout the season for punters to enjoy. Popular Rugby World Cup betting markets include:
🏆 Outright Winner – This market sees you placing a bet on which nation will win the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
🏆 Match Winner – This is placing a bet on the outcome of a specific match at the Rugby World Cup – either team a, team b, or the draw.
🏆 Handicap – Handicap betting on rugby sees one side given a ‘virtual deficit’ to overcome. An example could be Australia giving Portugal 45 points, meaning the Wallabies must win by 46 points or more to be the handicap winner. If Portugal were to win the match outright or lose by 45 points or less, they would be the handicap winner.
🏆 Winning Margin – The winning margin betting market sees punters placing a combined bet on which side will win the match and by how many points they will win. For example, France to beat New Zealand by 1-5 points.
Rugby World Cup Live Betting
Rugby union is a popular sport for live betting, and bookmakers will offer live betting on every Rugby World Cup match. Live betting allows you to place a wager in-play while the match is taking place, offering you the opportunity to take part in the action whenever you choose.
Betting on Rugby World Cup Final
You can already place a bet on who will win the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
When the two finalists are finally known, there will be a vast range of betting markets available on the match including handicap betting, winning margin, and first try scorer.
Bookmakers will also likely provide promotions and bonuses on the final. You should therefore make sure to check out what’s on offer nearer the time.
Top Five Tips for Successful Betting on Rugby Union World Cup
Whether you’re new to rugby union betting or an old hand, here are five tips to help when betting on Rugby World Cup.
⭐ Compare Odds
When placing a bet it’s always important to shop around between bookmakers for the best odds. A larger price on your fancy could see extra cash in your pocket if it’s successful so make sure to use an odds comparison website before placing any bet on the Rugby Union World Cup.
⭐ Check Out Tipsters
Rugby union betting may be one of your strengths, but comparing your views against others is always worthwhile. A search on Google will bring up various Rugby World Cup betting tips for you to compare.
⭐ Grab Some Free Bets
The Rugby World Cup sees bookmakers offer plenty of promotions to allow you to get stuck into the action. Free bets are a great way to enjoy Rugby World Cup betting without risking any of your own money. So keep an eye out for sign-up offers and specific promotions at the top bookies throughout the tournament.
⭐ Knowledge
With countries playing four games in the pool stages, injuries and suspensions are sure to play a crucial part in the Rugby World Cup. So keep an eye on expected team lineups and injury and suspension lists – a big-name player missing for their country will affect their chances of winning a game. Again, knowledge is key when it comes to Rugby World Cup betting.
⭐ Never Chase Losses
Any gambling should be viewed as a social pastime and not a method to make money – if your bets are out of luck, then never try to win back your losses by betting more money.
The History of the Rugby World Cup
The first-ever Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand in 1987. This first edition saw the hosts lifting the trophy after defeating France in the final. Since then, the All Blacks have won the tournament twice more, becoming the only country to successfully defend the trophy in 2011 and 2015.
South Africa are the current holders and three-time winner, with success in 2019 following victories in 1995 and 2007. Australia have enjoyed Rugby World Cup glory twice in 1991 and 1999, while England are the only northern hemisphere side to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy, having done so in 2003.
France have reached the final three times and have lost all three matches – will their luck change in 2023?
FAQs
To conclude our guide to 2023 Rugby World Cup betting, we answer some of the most common questions about the tournament.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is being held in France, with 20 nations participating in matches being held across nine cities. The tournament will run from Friday, September 8, until the final on Saturday, October 28.
South Africa won the 2019 Rugby World Cup to become the second country behind New Zealand to win the trophy three times. The Springboks defeated England in the final in Yokohama, Japan.
The Rugby World Cup takes place every four years, and 2023 is the tenth time the tournament has been held.
Yes, you can – the Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar, so all the top bookmakers will offer odds, promotions, and bonuses throughout the tournament.
