Football
Tennis
Darts
Cricket
Golf
Horse Racing
F1
Boxing
MMA
Any
Yes
No
Cash Out
Not Needed
Debit card
Paypal
Neteller
Skrill
Apple Pay
PaysafeCard
Trustly
MuchBetter
Deposit match
Enhanced odds
Free Bets
Don't want a bonus
Rugby union betting sites give you the chance to turn predictions into profits. The quality of odds and markets varies from site to site, so it’s a good idea to look for the best deal. Comparing our recommended bookmakers for rugby union is a great place to start.
Our top-rated sites have a variety of free bets and welcome bonuses you can claim when you sign up for an account. We’ll introduce you to the best of those a little later. Furthermore, we’ll guide you through some popular rugby markets, betting strategies, and other helpful tips to get you started.
These ten betting sites have scored highest with our experts for rugby union betting.
Whether you’re looking for rugby union betting odds outright markets or the latest live odds for the big game, it pays to be choosy. The following bookies provide stellar betting opportunities by way of quality odds and markets, industry-leading promos, and much more.
Although there are many pretenders to the crown, Paddy Power is the king of rugby union bookies. The Irish site is consistent in offering an attractive betting opportunity to new players, with a top-notch site with plenty of rugby coverage.
Paddy Power rugby union betting markets are available 24/7 for all the big matches and tournaments. You can find the best prices for the Six Nations, the Gallagher Premiership, and even smaller competitions such as Super Rugby Americas.
Keep a special eye out for Paddy’s Power Prices, as well as updated new customer betting offers around major games. We also recommend checking out their comprehensive selection of live betting odds for domestic and international matches.
We believe BetMGM sports offers some of the best handicap betting odds online. The site, which launched in the UK in 2023, has become one of our favourite places to get our bets down. Their United Rugby Championship coverage, in particular, is stellar.
We’re huge fans of the BetMGM new customer offers, even if few of them can be used for betting on rugby. For this reason, we could not place this bookie at the top of our rankings for the best UK betting sites for union. In almost every other area like pre-match betting odds or live coverage, however, they are top-class.
One of the aspects of the site that really impressed us was the layout: odds for all competitions are easy to find. Although a simple design, you can access all odds from the main rugby union category within a few swipes of your finger.
This sophisticated bookie has betting odds rugby union fans are sure to appreciate. Fitzdares is one of the classier online betting sites in the United Kingdom, and that smooth approach is prevalent in their site design. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a lot of substance as well.
Our experts recommend Fitzdares for several different reasons, including their betting odds and markets for the European Rugby Champions Cup. You’ll find some of the most competitive online, all on one of the best live betting sites in the industry.
Head on over to the promotions page at Fitzdares to see what the latest offers entail. These guys do a great job of providing a wide range of different offers – this means most punters will find at least one to strongly consider. You can talk to customer service or place bets over the phone, too!
We aren’t aware of many bookies as popular as BoyleSports is right now. That sentiment appears to be shared among our rugby betting experts, who rank the site up there with the very best. Mostly because it does all of the basic things very well indeed.
We compared a few things at BoyleSports, like Six Nations and Rugby Championship odds, and found quality every time. The site is so welcoming to players; we see it as a fun place to turn your rugby union betting predictions and picks into potential profit. Their sports betting app is arguably even better.
BoyleSports is one of our favourite destinations for wagering on the British and Irish Lions, Autumn Internationals, and other rugby union fixtures betting odds. But perhaps the biggest compliment we can pay the site is for its commitment to providing quality women’s rugby union odds.
William Hill and rugby union betting work very well together. This is one of the world’s oldest bookies, having been founded in 1934. These days, their online betting sites cover a wide range of professional sports including rugby – in our opinion, it’s one of the popular sports they do best.
We’ve seen a great mix of rugby markets and bets for the Gallagher Premiership available at William Hill. You’ll find opportunities to place single bets, trebles, and accas; or simply outright rugby union betting odds to win leagues and titles. These may appear alongside novelty selections including rugby union transfer betting for the next Rugby World Cup.
All sites we recommend are 100% safe and secure. Better yet, only bookies that are licenced by the UK Gambling Commission make our rankings. But a truly great site for betting on rugby must offer more than safety alone – here are just some of the other factors we consider.
One of the sweetest things about betting on union is the variety of bets and markets available. Whether it’s the big inter-provisional clash at the Aviva or the next international rugby tournament on the calendar, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
When looking for a new online betting site, it can be helpful to have a sense of what you want. You’ll find quality markets and rugby union handicap betting odds on most sites, but things like new and existing customer betting offers may differ. Use this table to compare some of the more appealing features offered by our top sites.
Bookie | Live Rugby Betting | Cash Out | Free Bet Club | Mobile App | Acca Promos | New Customer Offer Type |
Stake Returned if Bet Loses | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
First-Day Losses Back as Free Bet | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get | ||||||
Bet and Get |
There are plenty of new additions to the gambling industry providing quality betting odds for rugby union. Here are a few of our firm favourites to look at.
Our recommended sites offer a wide range of free bets and promotions available to new customers. Existing customers may also benefit from a few extras here and there at these sites, which are all licenced by the UK Gambling Commission, the governing body and regulator. Here’s a look at some of the most popular offers you can use to enhance your chances of making a profit.
Having a top-notch app to bet on rugby union is a privilege we can all afford. Here are the top-performing union betting apps, as voted by our expert reviewers.
Akin to convincing team tactics ahead of a key match, sound planning and execution are also important when betting on rugby union. Our rugby experts know both the game and the betting industry inside out – here are a few tips they recommend adding to your locker.
We have put together a list of the ten best bookies, as chosen by our expert reviewers. These sites have betting odds for rugby union titles and leagues from around the world and an abundance of markets. Before making your rugby union betting predictions, we suggest comparing bookies’ features such as cashout, live betting, and bet builders at these UKGC-licenced sites.
Valuable new customer betting offers and promotions allow you to get something extra, just for signing up. We encourage our readers to be selective in the free bets and bonuses they choose, opting only for the best deals out there. Whether it’s a free bet on the Six Nations or 50% of your first-day losses back, don’t be afraid to be choosy.
The golden rule of gambling is to never play with money you cannot afford to lose – one of the best ways of keeping with this is to set a budget. In addition to only betting with what you can afford, we suggest using some of the gambling tools on our recommended sites. In addition to deposit limits, consider reality checks and regular breaks to prevent you from losing control.
Bookies odds for rugby union and rugby league work very similarly; this is despite the fact that they are different sports and often referred to as different codes of rugby. With shared origins, there are similarities in the way both are played – for example, balls used and rules around normal time/extra time.
Here are some other key differences to note when betting on rugby league vs union.
Category | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Number of Players | 15 Players | 13 Players |
Points | Tries (5); Conversions (2); Penalties (3); Drop Goals (3) | Tries (5); Conversions (2); Penalties (2); Drop Goals (1) |
Set Pieces | Scrums and Lineouts | Scrums Only |
Duration of Play | 2 x 40 Minute Halves + Over Time | 2 x 40 Minute Halves – No Additional Time |
Substitutions | 8 Possible Replacements | 4 Possible Replacements |
Rugby union and rugby league prices and markets look very similar at online bookies. Odds follow the same format regardless of the sport, with different opportunities available depending on the bet. For instance, you may get the favourite for the first-try scorer in both a union and league match at 5/1.
Top rugby bookies allow you to bet on your favourite teams, whenever the action is happening. You can bet on domestic leagues and tournaments, European competitions, and major international events like the Rugby World Cup and British and Irish Lions tours.
If you’re looking to dive right in and bet on some club matches, these are the best competitions in the world to target.
There are plenty of international rugby fixtures that you can bet on.
If that wasn’t enough, there are even more odds and markets available for top competitions like these.
If you’re struggling to nail your rugby bets, why not try applying some expert knowledge? Betting on union is the same as any other sport in the sense that anything can happen. You can’t control the uncontrollable – but you can enhance your chances of success by following this advice.
It’s tempting to jump on early value betting opportunities, but it can come at a cost. Teamsheets for matches are generally released 2-3 days before a game, which is when you’ll see players that will feature in the starting XV. Sometimes, the starting lineup is weaker than anticipated with key players missing – this can significantly affect the outcome of a match.
Checking teamsheets before wagering is particularly smart when betting on the URC. Leinster, for example, are stacked full of international superstars and this means success. Few of those stars, however, feature regularly in this championship with many (league) matchday XVs comprised of youngsters and fringe players.
Player form is an intangible factor based on several contributing factors. Home advantage, however, can be measured as easily as looking up results at HQ over the past 5 or 10 matches. Most genuine experts’ rugby union betting tips allude to home form, as it seems especially prevalent in rugby.
Studies on home advantage found it accounted for 61% of 120 wins in the Six Nations from 2000-07, as well as similar numbers from other tournaments post-2010s. Home advantage may be a causal factor influencing players’ psyche – furthermore, home support may be enough to “intimidate” the opposition and even influence officials to favour the home side.
There are few games in rugby with nothing at stake. A few glances at the faces of players during rugby games will tell you that – it is a very demanding, full-contact sport. But what few rugby union betting previews point out is the fact that some players only “turn up” when the stakes are high and there is something to be won or saved.
Our experts recommend avoiding bets on the likes of warm-up games/non-capped international tests or Barbarians matches unless there is significant value to be had. There are plenty of league, cup, and international tests to place your money on – these games are usually less volatile and thus somewhat easier to predict the outcome of.
What do fit players, heavier players, or nimbler, more technically gifted guys have in common? They can’t control the weather. Most matches are played on grass and in the open, meaning they can be affected by the elements. While warm, mild weather is conducive to running rugby, wet and heavy weather may turn the contest into a drudging arm wrestle.
For this reason, sunny weather usually leads to more points scored in a match (especially by backs). Windy/wet weather can cause the trajectory of the ball to awry and lead to plenty of handling errors and gifts to the opposition. Forwards are often the ones to score in these types of games, too.
Rugby is a full-contact sport with a rather normal 80-minute time frame where anything can happen. While we strongly recommend taking the previous tips into account, it’s also worth thinking about some other potentially influential elements in the game.
Our experts have identified several contenders for your next rugby union betting site. Bookies like BetMGM, Fitzdares, and others on this list have made strong impressions. But ultimately, our top choice for rugby union betting fans is Paddy Power.
With some of the best odds and markets in the gambling industry, Paddy Power is a big name in rugby betting. The site is perfect for both new and experienced bettors to use, with everything laid out as it should be both on desktop and the mobile app. Try them out for yourself with a free bet when you join today!
Selecting the best sites for betting on rugby union is easy – once you have several top candidates to choose from. Having one or more standout bookies to bet with means you will have more in the way of betting opportunities. This includes everything from the quality of odds and markets to the appeal of the promotions available to you.
With so many markets available, it’s never a bad idea to broaden your horizons. The more interested you become in rugby union, the more favourable your chances become when spotting a good bet. Good luck!
Betting on rugby union comes down to making predictions for the outcome of games or events, backed by your money. To place bets on any rugby event, you must first sign up with an online site offering odds for that event, deposit funds, and select your stake. Refer back to our free rugby union betting tips above when you’ve chosen your site to bet on.
As covered above, all of our top-rated bookies offer live rugby union betting prices and odds. From in-play markets to live Gallagher Premiership games, you can compare prices across several sites to get the best deal.
A rugby handicap bet is a type of wager provided by bookies to even the playing field between two sides of contrasting ability. Bookies will usually offer odds for the strongest team at the same, or close to, that of the weaker team but with a theoretical disadvantage. The weaker team get a head start, meaning their odds are reduced but their chances are enhanced by this points advantage.
Yes, rugby union spread betting does exist but has two definitions depending on where you are in the world. One is typically used in North America instead of what we refer to as odds involving handicap bets in the UK. The second refers to common wagers and rugby union odds found on sports spread betting sites.
Our top choice for Gallagher Premiership rugby union fixtures betting is the Paddy Power sports betting site. However, you will find odds for the Premiership at any of our recommended sites. From outrights for the Six Nations to the latest URC live betting odds, you’ll have plenty to compare.
We’ve seen rugby union World Cup betting odds released by some sites before the previous one has even concluded! Some sites will have prices available earlier than others, of course. But most should have some basic outrights well in advance of the tournament’s opening date.
Adam joined www.bettingsites.co.uk in August 2023, bringing almost a decade of betting knowledge with him. A former writer for Gamblingsites.com, Adam prides himself on spotting a good bet, and loves to share his tips and picks across a wide range of sports and events. Adam is a huge boxing and MMA fan, and started his career writing about both. He is also passionate about his favourite sports teams, which are Glasgow Celtic, Dublin GAA, and Leinster Rugby. At the casino, you're most likely to see him at the poker or blackjack tables. But what he loves more than anything is writing about sports and the gambling industry. You can find his expert insight and commentary right here.
Unsure which bookmaker is the best for you?
Easily find your perfect bookmaker in under a minute, no sign up necessary.
Football
Tennis
Darts
Cricket
Golf
Horse Racing
F1
Boxing
MMA
Any
Yes
No
Cash Out
Not Needed
Debit card
Paypal
Neteller
Skrill
Apple Pay
PaysafeCard
Trustly
MuchBetter
Deposit match
Enhanced odds
Free Bets
Don't want a bonus