A Simple Introduction to Online Rugby Betting
Let’s start with the basics. Rugby betting is the process of placing a wager on a rugby match - in this instance, I’m talking about via an online sportsbook that you can access via your desktop website or mobile. For example, I might place a bet on the Wests Tigers to win in an NRL match between the Tigers and Panthers. If your bet selection comes in, then your bet wins, and your payout is equal to your initial wager amount, multiplied by the odds of the bet - easy!
In Australia, you’ll find online sportsbooks that support a fantastic range of Rugby League and Rugby Union competitions, including:
- Super Rugby.
- National Rugby League.
- Rugby World Cup.
- State and City competitions.
You’ll usually be able to bet on all the matches from the domestic leagues and cup, plus important international events like the Rugby World Cup and Olympics.
Common Types of Rugby Bets
An important part of rugby betting is understanding the different types of bets you can make. Oftentimes, I simply place outright winner bets, and this is the most common type of bet for most sports, including
UFC betting in Australia. However, most sportsbooks offer far more than this and give you a heap of other interesting options - I’ve explained the main rugby bet types in the table below:
| Bet Name |
Description |
| Moneyline |
Outright winner of a single rugby match |
| Parlay |
Outright winner of two or more rugby matches. |
| Over/Under (Total Points) |
Whether the points total of the two teams will be more or less than a preset value. |
| Handicap Betting |
Usually in matches where there is a clear favorite. The favored team will be given some type of handicap, such as a points handicap, which makes the betting more competitive. |
| First Try Scorer |
Selecting the first player who will score a try in the game. |
| Total Tries (Player) |
Predicting how many tries a specific player will score. |
| Total Tries (Team) |
Predicting how many tries a specific team will score. |
| Half Time/Full Time |
Predicting which team will be leading at half time and then then outright winner. |
| Competition winner |
Betting on who will be the overall winner - such as the NRL Champion, or the winner of the Rugby World Cup. |
| Same Game Parlay |
Multiple props bets from a single match to form one bet. |
These are just a sample of the more popular bet types - you will find loads more at the Australian sportsbooks I recommend later in this guide. To start with though, I recommend keeping things simple and sticking with outright/parlay bets only. Once you are comfortable with making those rugby bets, you can potentially look at moving onto the more advanced team and player props bets.
Rugby Betting Tips
Knowing the bet types is just one aspect of rugby betting. You’ve also got to be smart and think about how you bet, how you manage your bankroll, and your strategies. I’ve listed some simple tips below to give you a head start.
🏦 Only Bet at Licensed Australian Sportsbooks
🏉 Check the Rugby Coverage Before You Sign Up
📈 Take a Conservative 80/20 Approach to Your Bets
🛡️ Check Out the Available Responsible Gambling Tools
Pros and Cons of Betting on Rugby
Like
tennis betting, I don’t think online rugby betting is perfect and there’s always the cons to consider before signing up to a sportsbook and giving it a try. I’ve summarized my thoughts on this below:
Four Awesome Aussie Rugby Betting Sites to Try
We’ve looked at the types of bets, and you’ve got some tips on what to do, and how to manage your bankroll. Now it’s time to actually get started and give it a try.
I’ve tested heaps of popular Australian sportsbooks during my time, so below, I’ve recommended four sites that all prominently feature rugby betting that you can get started at today. As a side note - for these recommendations, please remember that when I speak about in-play betting - you can only place online in-play bets on horse racing. For Rugby, you’ll have to do it at retail locations or via the phone.
Playup - Proudly Australian Sportsbook
Playup is an incredibly popular Australian sportsbook and I’ve done a separate review on this site previously. It is part of the DraftStars brand which offers a number of other betting outlets. I’ve found that Playup primarily focuses on horse racing, but its coverage for rugby betting is also brilliant. You’ve got all the NRL matches available and whenever I check these games out, most of them have 30+ betting markets available including player and team props.
The Super Rugby competitions also have available bets, as well as major rugby tournaments like the World Cup when they are live. Aside from the excellent betting options, I like the design and style of the site itself. The color scheme and theme look great, and it has a logical layout that I think new sportsbook users will quickly be able to get used to.
Picklebet - Great Odds for Rugby Betting
Picklebet is another quality Australian sportsbook with an easy-to-use design for beginners. Everything is logically organized and you’ll quickly be able to find the rugby betting sections. I like that they have split the betting action between Rugby League and Union so you can get to the Super Rugby and NRL competitions without too much fuss.
For the NRL, they cover all the games, and I have found some live streaming for the matches too. You can make in-play bets on the games, so this could be a great option if you want to make a few bets while you’re watching your favorite NRL team. I like the betting variety here also as you have props like winning margin, 1x2, and the ability to make parlays. Aside from rugby, this Australian sportsbook also features Aussie Rules, soccer, tennis, golf, cricket, basketball, and baseball, among other sports.
Bet365 - Best Sportsbook Overall
I’ve been a bet365 customer for years now and it remains one of my top AUS sportsbooks. The biggest feature here is easily the bet365 app. This is THE highest quality sportsbook app I’ve used and it makes rugby betting a breeze. It’s available for Android and iOS and I’ve always found the Android version to work flawlessly and to give me a satisfying online betting experience.
If you want rugby action, bet365 delivers. It features all the popular national and domestic competitions, and it has some of the most detailed betting options I’ve seen. This operator also has a quality in-play betting setup, with a detailed 2D game render and statistics so you can make on-the-fly bets based on the match action as it unfolds.
Betr - Easy to Use Rugby Betting Site
If you want a clean and simple
Rugby League betting
experience, Betr is the way to go. While I love the bet365 app, I also love the Betr website. It’s got a brilliant design with clean colors and marvelous utility. It’s generally my go-to betting site when I’m on my PC, but the functionality is just one aspect. You’ve got all the NRL and Super Rugby action available, and although they don’t have loads of live streaming, the in-play betting is solid and I’ve always thought the odds were competitive.
Not only can you bet on rugby here, but Betr has some of the best Aussie Rules, baseball, and basketball support I’ve found at Australian sportsbooks. I’ve often used this site to place bets on the AFL and NBA, and I like that you can make both parlays and same game parlays here for most of the available competitions.
Jump Onto an Australian Sportsbook Today and Give Rugby Betting a Go
I hope you’ve found this guide on rugby betting interesting and have greater insight into what you can do at Australian sportsbooks, and how you should do it. We’ve also got similar guides on
football betting
and other sports if you are interested. The key with rugby is to be analytical and look for potential bets outside of the typical moneyline and parlay bets - check out the props bets for the matches and see if you think there are any opportunities based on your research.
If this is something you want to get into, or you’re looking for a new site to try, you can use your new-found knowledge and sign up to one of the Australian sportsbooks I’ve recommended. Playup, Picklebet, bet365, and Betr all have fantastic support for rugby betting including domestic and international competitions.
Our Top-Of-The-Line Bookmakers
Rugby Betting FAQs
Gamble Responsibly
Playing at online sportsbooks, real money casinos, and sweepstakes sites should always be safe and enjoyable. Keep control of your activity by following
responsible gambling
guidelines such as:
Set a Budget:
Decide on a budget you’re comfortable with and stick to it. Once it’s gone, stop playing.
Don’t Chase Losses:
Trying to recover losses often leads to overspending.
Play with a Clear Head:
Avoid playing under the influence, or when angry, stressed, or tired.
Set Time Limits:
Take breaks and ensure gambling doesn’t cut into time with family or friends.
Know Your Stuff:
Learn the rules, bet types, odds, and payouts before playing to avoid mistakes.
Use Responsible Gambling Tools:
Make use of features like budget limits and self-exclusion.
If you or someone you know is struggling to gamble responsibly, these free, confidential resources can help:
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Nick Slade
as part of our fact-checking process.
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