Rugby Union

Rugby Betting

Rugby Union is a full-contact sport contested by two sides of 15 players. A standard Rugby Union match has a total duration of 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each. With five points awarded for a try, two for a conversion, and three for a penalty, the winner of a game of Rugby Union is the team with the highest total of points after 80 minutes.

Here at Paddy Power, you can bet on the biggest rugby games and tournaments throughout the season. Whether you’re predicting the winner of the World Cup or the winning margin of a live game in the Six Nations, our rugby betting markets cover every outcome and allow you to back your knowledge of the sport.

Rugby Odds

The rugby odds here at Paddy Power represent the likelihood of specific outcomes. These odds are calculated by assessing factors such as form, head-to-head meetings, home-ground advantage, and injuries. Whether it’s long-term outrights or the live action of a game, our Rugby Union odds give you an indication of the most likely result.

You’ll find a variety of rugby odds on the Paddy Power site, with every potential result priced up and ready for you to bet on.

How do rugby odds work?

Rugby odds work like this: the shorter the odds, the more likely a particular outcome is. On the other hand, the longer the odds, the less likely a specific outcome is.

A closer look at possible returns also highlights how odds work: shorter odds typically offer smaller profits due to the higher likelihood of the outcome, while higher odds provide potentially larger returns due to the lower probability.

The Six Nations Betting & Odds

The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby tournament contested by England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and France. The Six Nations is typically held from early February to late March.

Each team plays five fixtures, with home-ground advantage alternating from year to year. The nation with the most points at the end of their five matches is crowned Six Nations champions.

Rugby World Cup betting

The Rugby World Cup is held every four years, with 24 countries competing for the chance to lift the most prestigious piece of silverware in the sport. The tournament features a group stage, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final.

The winner of the final is crowned World Cup champion and awarded the iconic Webb Ellis Cup.

Lions Tour Betting

The British and Irish Lions Tour takes place every four years, bringing together the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to take on either Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

The Lions' opponent rotates with every tour, adding to the tour’s significance as teams can only settle a rivalry every 12 years.

What are the best rugby betting markets?

You’ll find extensive betting markets here at Paddy Power that allow you to back your hunch during a game of rugby union. Here are some of the most popular rugby betting markets to choose from.

Match Odds: Bet on which team will win a rugby match at the end of 80 minutes.

Outright Winner: Bet on which team will win the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, or another major rugby tournament.

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

Top Points Scorer: Back the player you think will score the most points in a tournament or match, whether through tries, penalties, or conversions.

Winning Margin: Bet on the margin of victory for a team, whether it's by 1-7 points, 8-14 points, or 15+ points.

Highest Scoring Half: Bet on which half of the match will have the most points scored.

Handicap Betting: Bet on a team to overcome a handicap, meaning they must win by a certain number of points or lose by fewer points than the handicap states.

Odd or Even Total Points: Predict whether the total points scored in the match will be an odd or even number.

What is the most popular rugby bet?

The most popular rugby bet here at Paddy Power is the match-winner market. In this market, you’re simply selecting which team you think will win a one-off game of rugby. You will win your bet if your team emerges victorious after 80 minutes of hard-hitting rugby union action.

What are the upcoming fixtures on Paddy Power Rugby Union betting?

Popular upcoming fixtures include South Africa v New Zealand in which you can bet on South Africa to win at odds of 1.3, Canterbury v Northland in which you can bet on Canterbury to win at odds of 1.29, Hawke's Bay v Manawatu in which you can bet on Hawke's Bay to win at odds of 1.03 and more.

How to bet on rugby online?

To bet on rugby, first log into the Paddy Power website. Once you're logged in, click on ‘Rugby Union’. Doing this will give you access to options like upcoming matches, outrights, competitions, and specials.

From here, simply select the Rugby Union odds you want to bet on. A virtual betting slip will appear as soon as you make your selection. Lastly, input your stake and click the ‘Place Bets’ button in your betting slip to confirm your bet.

What are the latest rugby betting tips?

Rugby Union is as much about bone-crunching tackles as it is strategy, as teams use brain and brawn to secure a win. For these reasons, rugby union is a technical sport that requires a level of understanding before placing your rugby bets.

The good news is that here at Paddy Power, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by breaking down the must-know information, such as tactics, recent form, head-to-head records, as well as injuries and suspensions. You can find all of this crucial information on our, along with rugby tips, stats, and predictions.