bet365
Stoke-on-Trent based bookie bet365 is one of the most well-known names in the sports betting industry and is a quality rugby union betting site.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
- Price boosts during Rugby World Cup
- Depth of Rugby World Cup markets
- Competitive odds
Bottom line:
A top quality bookmaker, bet365 are one of the best Rugby World Cup betting sites in the UK. They offer competitive odds and provide a wealth of betting options.
Why we like Bet365
Bet365 offer a range of markets, both pre-match and in-play, giving punters numerous Rugby World Cup betting options. Outright prices on the overall winner and pool winners are available months in advance. Price boosts are available throughout the tournament to enhance the bookie’s already competitive odds.
What Bet365 offers you
- Depth of markets: Plenty of options for bettors during the Rugby World Cup, pre-match and live. You can bet on the outright winner, including each way options andpool winners, while match betting features a number of props and options.
- Competitive prices: Bet365 are up with the best for world cup odds for outrights and matches.
- Rugby Union bet builder: Build your own World Cup wagers with bet365’s rugby union bet builder
- Bet Boost: Throughout the tournament there are Bet Boosts available at bet365.
William Hill
Part of the UK betting scene since 1946, William Hill is one of Britain’s best Rugby World Cup betting sites.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
- #YourOdds helps you personalise your bets
- Great Rugby World Cup betting markets for outrights and matches
- Regular odds boosts
Bottom line:
William Hill are a great all-round sportsbook and provide punters with a range of betting options for World Cup outrights and individual matches. Their #YourOdds allows you greater freedom when building your bets.
Why we like William Hill
William Hill have regular enhanced odds promos for World Cup matches, a great range of markets and submarkets for punters to enjoy and the option to build and customise your wager with #YourOdds.
What William Hill offers you
- Acca Freedom: Boost your odds or ensure against one bad result on your Rugby World Cup Accas.
- Great range of Rugby World Cup markets: William Hill offer a huge amount of World Cup markets and submarkets, both pre-match and in-play.
- Odds Boost: Regular enhanced odds promos for World Cup fixtures.
- #YourOdds: Punters can build their bets up on outrights for the tournament or World Cup games with #YourOdds. If you still can’t find the selection you want you can tweet @WilliamHill #YourOdds to get your bet priced up.
BetVictor
BetVictor has been part of the UK betting scene since 1946. A well-established and reliable company, it has developed into an excellent online bookmaker. Rugby, both Union and League, is a strength of BetVictor, and they are among the UK’s best Rugby World Cup betting sites.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
- Rugby Union related promotions
- Outright odds available early ahead of World Cup
- BetVictor Loyalty Club
Bottom line:
BetVictor covers rugby union at international and club level throughout the world. The bookie has rugby union related promotions, offer early outright odds for tournaments and provide punters with quality information and deserve to be acknowledged as one of Britain’s best Rugby World Cup betting sites.
Why we like BetVictor
Punters who visit BetVictor have a wide range of betting options for the Rugby World Cup. They offer outright bets on the tournament winner well in advance, including each way options to two places at 1/3 odds.
What BetVictor offers you
- Early outright odds: BetVictor provide outright odds well in advance of tournaments and the Rugby World Cup is no exception with betting options available for the outright winner and the pools months in advance
- Stats at your fingertips: BetVictor provide a whole host of stats which can help you make more informed picks.
- BetVictor Loyalty Club: Opt into this promotion via the Offers tab. Place 5 bets of £5 or more on any Sports market, each with odds of 1/2 (1.50) or greater. Multiple bets made on the same outcome will count as one qualifying bet. Then open the box for a chance to win a prize. This can get you a Free Bet between £1 and £25 which can be used on any Sports market, can be used as one whole bet or a number of smaller bets, will only return any profit exceeding the total stake.
- New customer offer: BetVictor give new customers a choice of welcome offers and often tie them in with a specific event. At the time of writing new punters can bet £5 and get £30 in free bets.
BoyleSports
Irish bookmaker BoyleSports have developed into a fantastic online sportsbook. The bookie provides a great service for rugby union, including the Rugby World Cup.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
- Combined odds on Rugby World Cup outright betting
- Early outrights available on tournament
- Acca Rewards
Bottom line:
BoyleSports’ feature allowing you to combine odds in a market is something which makes them stand out from the crowd.
Why we like Boyle Sports
You can combine odds at BoyleSports, which helps you put the odds in your favour. The bookie is very prompt with their outright odds and they offer plenty of World Cup markets. There are regular odds boosts available during the tournament.
What BoyleSports offers you
- Combined odds: BoyleSports allows you to combine outright odds to shift things in your favour.
- Prompt outrights on the Rugby World Cup: BoyleSports put their outright odds up months in advance.
- Price boosts: Enhanced odds can be found on Rugby World Cup matches.
- Acca Loyalty: You could be eligible for a £5 free accumulator if you place five other accumulators.
Betfred
Founded on the back of a bet on England to win the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Betfred have earned a reputation as a top bookmaker in both codes of the oval ball game too.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
- Superb blog for World Cup news
- #PickYourPunt
- Try Scorer promos
Bottom line:
Betfred provide great coverage of rugby union, including try scorer promos such as Double Delight. They provide outright odds early ahead of the World Cup and other major tournaments.
Why we like Betfred
Rugby World Cup wagers can be customised with #PickYourPunt. Daily Price Boosts are given a dedicated page, which will be stacked during the World Cup. The bookie’s superb blog will provide a wealth of information in the build up to, and during, the tournament.
What Betfred offers you
- Informative blog: Info to help you make more informed picks during the Rugby World Cup can be found on Betfred’s blog.
- #PickYourPunt: You can contact Betfred to design your own wager combining various markets with #PickYourPunt. Other #PickYourPunt selections can be found on game-specific pages. They will be available for Rugby World Cup matches
- Daily Price Boosts: Look for the Daily Price Boosts section on the left-hand side of the website for higher odds on your World Cup games.
- Acca Insurance: Receive free bets on qualifying accumulators if you narrowly miss out.
How our experts choose the best sites to bet on the Rugby World Cup
Bettors will prioritise different things even when it comes down to the best Rugby World Cup betting sites. Some will want promos and specials, others will be keen to go wherever has the best odds. The number of outrights available is also a factor to consider.
Chris Sampson: I feel that the top online Rugby World Cup betting sites will offer outright bets months in advance. Depth of markets, enhanced odds and promos related to the tournament are also important factors.
Compare the best Rugby World Cup betting sites of 2023
In the build up to the tournament all of the best Rugby World Cup betting sites will be offering boosted odds and promos. It gives us a lot of choice, it can also be a little overwhelming as you try to pick a betting site to suit your needs. To get a clearer look at the leading candidates, here’s a quick comparison table:
| Site Name | Betting.com Rating | Best For | Full Review |
| Bet365 | 4.5/5 | Depth of markets | Review |
| William Hill | 4.5/5 | Customised wagers | Review |
| BetVictor | 4.4/5 | Early outright odds | Review |
| BoyleSports | 4.4/5 | Combined odds | Review |
| Betfred | 4.3/5 | Rugby World Cup info in blog | Review |
How to choose the best site for you
At Betting.com, we have researched to find the positives and negatives associated with several Rugby World Cup online betting sites. Selecting a bookie for a major event like this is a personal choice so it is important to undertake some research yourself
To help with that process, here are seven factors to consider:
- Focus on licences: Safety is very important when betting. Licensed bookmakers are the only place to bet and be confident in your security.
- Compare welcome offers: Welcome offers are a good way to kick-start your time with a bookie. Check their terms and conditions to make sure their sign-up offer is appropriate for your betting habits.
- Look at Rugby World Cup odds: First up, it is handy to see which markets are available on the Rugby World Cup. Then, it’s worth comparing their prices with other bookmakers.
- Check payment methods: All punters want deposits and withdrawals to be processed quickly and without hidden fees. See how many payment options are available.
- Research their reputation: Whether it’s scrolling through forums or searching for reviews, it’s helpful to see what other punters have thought of a bookmaker.
- Mobile experience: Download the bookmaker’s app to get a feel for the mobile experience. Check that the offers and features you can access on the website are available on your preferred mobile device.
- Trial registration: To really understand what it’s like to be a regular punter, you need to sign-up. First impressions matter, and the registration process can give you a clear idea of if this is the bookmaker for you.
Betting on Rugby World Cup explained
The first Rugby World Cup took place in 1987 and was won by New Zealand, the joint host nation. Naturally, betting on the World Cup has changed since then with online betting sites, live betting and the ability to bet on the move. Punters now have a vast choice over how they enjoy a Rugby World Cup wager.
Odds
Rugby World Cup odds are available a long way in advance, with some bookies offering prices on the next tournament as soon as the current tournament ends, if not before. Most of the best bookies have outright prices organised months in advance and match markets will be live soon after the schedule is released, and these will change with form, and injuries as the tournament progresses, as will the outright odds.
Rugby betting odds are calculated on the probability of something happening.
For example, the odds of Scotland winning the World Cup are longer than the odds of France winning the World Cup. That is because the probability of Scotland winning the World Cup is lower than the probability of France winning the World Cup.
If Scotland won the World Cup after you placed a £10 bet on them to do so at 16/1, you would win £160. But if France won the World Cup after you placed a £10 bet on them to do so at 5/1, you would win £50.
The best Rugby World Cup sites in the UK will display odds for different markets. Firstly, you will find odds for outrights. These will change on an almost daily basis due to results, form, and, in cup competitions, the draw.
Each match will display odds for the result (home win, away win, draw). Again these will move as things change (injuries, suspensions etc.) in the build up to the game.
Generally, if you add up the percentage probability of each of the three possible outcomes you can determine whether the odds are good value. Naturally the three percentages should make 100, however, that would leave the bookie without profit. What is a fair margin varies from sport to sport, however in rugby union the bookies who offer the best odds usually average around 108-110 (90-92% payout).
Picks
Just like selecting your preferred bookmaker, there is a lot to consider when making rugby union picks. Recent form, injuries, suspensions, upcoming fixtures and style of play/characteristics of the teams are all important factors. These factors are even more important in tournament rugby.
Types of Rugby World Cup bets
Rugby union bettors have never had more options available, especially with a high profile tournament such as the six nations. Punters can, for example, bet on outright winners and match results. Match stats are becoming more commonly available and some bookies are starting to introduce player props. Accas and multiples are also becoming popular. Bettors pick a number of games to predict the result from, with, for example, odds given for selecting four out of four correct results.
Futures Bet
This is a bet on an event which is often some way down the line. Punters often bet on outright winners (the winner of a competition, for example Six Nations, Rugby World Cup). Bets such as this can be made on individual players too, for example top points scorer or top try scorer in the World Cup. For the Rugby World Cup you can bet on the tournament winner and the winner of the qualifying pools.
Moneyline Bets
For an individual match punters bet on which team will win, or whether the game will end as a draw. An extension of this is betting on a specific result.
Over/Under (Total) bets
Betting the over/under in a match simply means you are wagering on how many points will be scored overall, not how many one team will score, or who will win.
Double Chance
As it sounds, double chance betting involves predicting two of the three possible outcomes in a rugby union match. In any game you will have three double chance options: Team 1 win + draw, Team 2 win + draw, Team 1 or Team 2 win.
Multiple-Game Bets
Parlay: A parlay involves more than one wager combined together for greater odds. You can place a same game rugby union parlay — multiple events from one matchup — or alternatively, events across multiple games. Comprising three doubles and a treble, a Trixie is three selections and four bets. At least two of the selections must land to guarantee a payout.
As stated earlier accumulators, where punters try to match a number of results, are becoming more popular in rugby union/World Cup betting.
The obvious risk is that all the bets have to win for the bettor to receive a payout. However, some bookmakers offer accumulator insurance so if one of your selections (minimum five selections) lets you down you will receive your stake back as a free bet.
Handicap betting
Handicap betting helps punters get better odds if a game appears to be one-sided.
Props markets
Prop markets are becoming more common, and they allow customers to bet on anything that may unfold during a game. Common prop bets include, correct score, first team to score, which team will score last plus others, depending on your bookie.
Depending on the bookie, there may be options to include props in a mixed parlay. Many bookmakers have rugby union bet builders and the option to tweet your customised bets to the bookie to get the odds.
In-play betting
Lots of Rugby World Cup punters enjoy the excitement of live betting as the match flows. Bettors can follow the action then use their judgement to place bets as the game unfolds. Live streaming has made this more popular. Bookmakers offer several markets, such as which team will score the next points, the next try scorer.
Pool winner
The group winner market is available. You can also bet on teams progressing from the pool.
Tournament winner
The most popular of the outright markets is betting on the tournament winner. Some bookies will put these odds live soon after the final of the previous World Cup while all the leading bookies will have these odds available months in advance. Most bookies offer each way up to two places at 1/3 odds.
Rugby World Cup betting strategies
Building a betting strategy for tournament rugby can be tricky. The usual factors like form, head-to-head and team news all matter, but the long gaps between international fixtures can leave you with a lot of uncertainty. It is useful to look into the statistics, and potentially consider how nations have fared at major tournaments in the past. Watch a lot of international rugby union to understand it better and look at previous World Cups and other international tournaments, such as the Six Nations, as a guide.
Get to know more about the Rugby World Cup to bet smarter
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be the 10th edition of the men’s Rugby World Cup. The competition takes place every four years. France are the host nation, for the third time, with the tournament scheduled to take place from September 8 until October 28. There will be nine venues across the country, with the opening match and final taking place at the Stade de France, in Paris. The teams compete for the Webb Ellis trophy and the 2023 tournament will take place in the bicentenary year of the invention of the sport by William Webb Ellis.
Twenty teams are set to compete. A total of 12 teams gained automatic qualification for the tournament after finishing in the top three of their pool at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which included France already automatically qualified as host. The remaining eight spaces were decided by regional competitions followed by a few cross-regional play-offs.
The defending champions are South Africa, who defeated England 32–12 in the 2019 final. Chile will make its first ever appearance at the Rugby World Cup, and Portugal will return for its second appearance, after 16 years.
The teams have been divided into four pools of five teams. The top two from each pool qualify for the quarter-finals and from there the tournament continues in knockout form. As well as the final there will be a bronze medal match between the losing semi-finalists.
Previous World Cup Winners
- 2019 – South Africa
- 2015 – New Zealand
- 2011 – New Zealand
- 2007 – South Africa
- 2003 – England
- 1999 – Australia
- 1995 – South Africa
- 1991 – Australia
- 1987 – New Zealand
New Zealand and South Africa have both won three titles each, while Australia have won twice. England’s victory in 2003 makes them the only other winners.
The 2027 world cup is scheduled to take place in Australia while the United States are due to be the hosts in 2031.
Who is the favourite to win the FIFA World Cup in 2023?
Most bookies have France and New Zealand as the two favourites to win the World Cup in 2023. At the time of writing several bookmakers have them at 3/1. Six Nations Champions Ireland are at 4/1 with many betting sites and South Africa, England and Australia are the next most fancied.
Who is competing at the FIFA World Cup in 2026?
- Argentina
- Australia
- Chile
- England
- Fiji
- France
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Romania
- Samoa
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Tonga
- Uruguay
- Wales
What are the key dates to keep in mind?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup runs from September 8 until October 28.
Opening match – Friday September 8
Group Matches: September 8 – October 8
Quarter-finals – October 14/15
Semi-finals – October 20/21
Bronze final – October 27
Final– October 28
For more on rugby union and follow the link. You can read also read our Rugby World Cup Preview.