While rugby might not be called the most important of the unimportant things in life, it comes pretty darn close if you’re a big fan of the sport. If you’ve been following the sport for some time, you surely know that it is popular across the globe.
It’s found an audience in many countries, all the way from Ireland and France to South Africa and New Zealand. A total of 101 full-member and 18 associate-member countries are part of the organization known as World Rugby. When it comes to clubs, over 180 thousand are registered. Moreover, there were over six million people who played rugby worldwide and 2.36 million that were actually registered players in 2014. This popular sport is played by individuals of all ages, sizes, and genders.
On the other hand, if you’re not a fan yet, you might not know anything about rugby, its history and how it’s played. To get you up to speed, let’s go over a quick lesson in rugby history. Rugby comes from a game that was played in Rugby School, a school in Warwickshire, England. For a while, each school had its own rules for how the game was played. However, in 1845, a written set of rules was produced by Rugby School, which was followed by Cambridge Rules in 1848. While the game might have been similar to football in some aspects, The Football Association (FA) set specific rules that disallowed certain features seen in rugby and the game became known as association football. This led to the formation of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 1871, for all the clubs that favoured Rugby Rules, which eventually became rugby football. Later on, in 1895, another schism within rugby happened. Some teams broke away due to class divisions, modified the rules, and established what is now known as the rugby league. To differentiate the two, the RFU version took on the name rugby union. If you are a new follower, you might have not known that there is a difference, as both are referred to as rugby all over the world.
Now that you’ve potentially learned something new, let’s see if being a fan can actually help you in case you ever decide to bet on rugby, whether online or in a betting shop.
How can one bet on rugby?
If you have ever bet on any sports, you should not have a problem with betting on rugby either. There are a few simple steps that pertain to all kinds of betting and some that are specific to rugby. Here are some more details.
Find a sportsbook
First of all, to bet on rugby, or any sport for that matter, you need to find a place where you can do so. One option is looking for a local betting shop where you can watch the games and meet some like-minded people. The alternative, which might be more convenient for many people, is betting online. The online approach is oftentimes more accessible as bets can be placed wherever and whenever. Betting shops typically have working hours while online operators are open 24/7. Moreover, it’s not uncommon to find more options online. It’s easier to compare odds and find a provider that offers the exact bet you want to place. Online sportsbooks are easy to find, especially in countries that religiously follow the sport, such as Ireland. There are some top betting choices for Irish Rugby fans available simply by doing some research.
Make an account and claim your bonuses
Once you’ve chosen an online operator, you should make an account with them and put money into your account. In case you are unaware, most providers offer different kinds of bonuses that you could claim. New users typically get welcome bonuses that multiply their first few deposits. That basically means that you get some free money that you can use for bets.
Understand different kinds of bets
Before you make a bet, you need to understand the different kinds that exist. For example, you can find match result bets, first-try scorer bets, or winning margin bets. You can also find handicap bets and under/over bets. Then, if you’re betting on a tournament or series, you can make bets specific to that event. It’s always recommended to thoroughly research each kind of bet before you actually wager money.
Learn more about odds
In addition to learning more about different kinds of bets, you should also learn about odds. For one, did you know that odds can be presented in three formats? They all signify the chances that a certain team or player has of winning or being successful, but they look significantly different. You should decide which options suit your best, if it’s fractional, decimal or money line.
Decide what you want to bet on
When you open a betting website, you will see all sorts of bets that are available not just for rugby but for other sports and events as well. You might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices, but you need to decide on the bet you want to make. With the knowledge of bets and odds, it should be easier to narrow down your choices. See how much you could win by betting on the favourite and if supporting the underdog can be more fun.
Place your bets and wait for the results
All that’s left to do is place an actual bet and wait for the results. If you’re in a betting shop, you might be able to watch a game with some other punters if it’s being televised. On the other hand, if you’re following at home, you might find the game in question on TV or stream it online. In case it is not televised, you will be able to see live results on the sportsbook’s website. If you’ve guessed the outcome correctly, you would see a hefty payout. If not, you get to try again. Look into whether the online provider you’ve chosen offers cashback bonuses as, that way, you might be able to get back a portion of the money you’ve lost.
How does being a fan help with betting?
Although you could go in blind and try betting on a rugby match without ever watching one, watching and betting with some knowledge does come with its benefits. While you might have beginner’s luck, fans typically have more insight into what is happening on the field. Even though no one can fully predict the final outcome, having seen some games and knowing players and teams at least a little bit can be a big advantage. So, here are a few reasons why you should become a proper fan and learn more about rugby before placing bets.
You will know a team’s form
For one, if you’re a fan of a certain team, you’ve surely been following their season. You know if they’re in a slump, if they’ve been on a roll or if their form changes from match to match. The form is important in all sports, including rugby. That means that you might be able to better guess the outcome of the match, based on how confident and motivated the players are going into it. In case a team has been struggling for a while, they might be low on confidence and continue their downward spiral. On the other hand, confident players might continue their winning streak. While there always might be an upset, experienced fans know how a team is feeling before a match and can make a strong bet.
You will understand a player’s strengths and weaknesses
Just like you can be aware of how a team is feeling as a whole, you can also know each player’s strengths and weaknesses. You will know what each player brings to the table, which means that you should be able to make an educated guess on how the match will play out once you see the line-up. If the star player is missing, the chances of the favourite might decrease a bit and the underdog might be able to pull off an upset. If the best scorer is out of the game, it might be better to skip the highest try scorer bet for the time being.
You will have knowledge of the team’s overall performance
Finally, you will also know how a specific team tends to perform at home and away. Who performs well under pressure? Who has a tendency to slip up in important matches? How do the English perform in hot weather? How do Ireland and New Zealand play against each other? How does Australia perform when it travels to South Africa, for example? There are many specifics that you will be more familiar with if you follow the sport regularly.
As you can see, there are a few ways how you can benefit from being a fan when betting on rugby. You will know what to pay attention to in terms of players and teams.