Best Rugby Betting Sites in the UK for 2024

Betting on Rugby in the UK

For punters from the UK looking to bet on rugby, there are numerous ways to engage. Whether you prefer the comfort of your living room or want to bet on the go during breaks or live games, laptops, PCs, and mobile phones offer convenience.

A user-friendly interface and live-streaming options are crucial considerations. While the odds vary, exploring bookmakers' live-streaming offerings is worthwhile.

Whether a sportsbook offers live betting or cash-out features is equally important to factor in, depending on how serious a gambler you are.

That is pertaining to placing bets while the game is underway or having the option to bail out if the team you’re wagering on isn’t going as well as you had envisaged.

No doubt, some gamblers’ eyes will light up from the generous bonuses or the number of free bets bookmakers will dangle, especially to beckon newbies through their virtual iGaming playground.

Rugby Union Events/Tournaments/Leagues to Bet On

The Rugby Union calendar year has plenty of major events punters can wager on. Better yet, most betting sites often tend to provide event-specific offers and odd boosts.

Some of the Rugby Union tournaments and leagues worldwide include the following. 

The Rugby World Cup 

The Rugby Union normally hosts an international world cup event every four years comprising national teams across the world. This six-week event consists of a pool round and a knockout stage leading to a final where teams gun for the Webb Ellis Cup. 

The Rugby World Cup was first held in 1987 and continues to be the greatest rugby event. In general, it's only third behind Football World Cup and Olympic Games in TV viewership.  

Six Nations

Six Nations is a Rugby Union tournament that takes place between the first week of February and March. Six countries participate in this event: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. 

The teams play each other once. The team with the most points after the final round of play is declared the tournament's winner.

European Rugby Champions Cup

Besides the Rugby Union events featuring national teams, you can also punt on rugby clubs. The best chance you have is the European Rugby Champions Cup which features clubs from different European nations.

Super Rugby 

Super Rugby is an annual rugby union club competition that features clubs in the southern hemisphere. The tournament involves clubs from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa. 

British and Irish Lions Tour

Since 1888, the Lions have been touring teams in the southern hemisphere, notably New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. 

The travelling team normally consists of the best players in Rugby Union.  

Premiership Rugby 

This is the top-tier club rugby union in England that normally runs from September to June, with all clubs paying each other home and away. 

At the end of the regular season, the top four clubs get into a playoff round to find the winner — the final takes place at Twickenham Stadium. All the top six clubs qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup. 

Pro 14

This Rugby Union tournament was established in 2001 with clubs from Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Wales and Scotland. It is a point-based competition, with the end-of-season winner determined through a playoff. 

This event takes place between September and May every year, and the top teams earn a place to play in the European Rugby Champions Cup. 

Rugby League Events to Bet On

The rugby league is less popular than Union. However, you still get a comprehensive selection of events thanks to its popularity in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and several other regions. Here are the top tournaments to watch out for.

The Super League

Also known as the Betfred Super League at the time of writing, this top-level tournament began in 1996. It is a UK event, but you can expect teams from France and Canada in the fixtures. Stadium attendance can soar as high as 64,000, as was the case for the St. Helens vs Salford Red Devils in October 2019.

The Super League season runs from February to September, with the top six teams battling for the Super League Grand Final title. St Helens is the current record holder with 10 wins, followed closely by Lees Rhinos, who have won 8 times. Surprisingly, the only other winners are Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls.

Rugby League World Cup

First held in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup is the biggest global event of the sport, which the IRL administers. It takes place every four years. The tournament brings together about 32 teams, including 16 men, 8 women, and 8 wheelchair teams, spanning 20 nations and competing across about 60 matches.

Interestingly, England has been a three-time finalist but never won the competition, while Australia has taken home 11 titles.

The National Rugby League

This tournament is arguably a top 3 contestant for the most celebrated Rugby League event. Often called the NRL, it was first held in 1998. It takes place annually — Australia primarily dominates the event, but it also includes teams from New Zealand.

The NRL typically brings together 16 teams, although the number may increase. For the event's highlight, the top eight teams at the end of the season qualify for a knockout competition to determine the ultimate champion, and no relegation is allowed.

European Championship

Often referred to as the Championship, this is the second-tier European rugby league competition. It only began in 2004 and consisted of 14 teams, typically including clubs from the UK, France, and Canada.

By the end of each season, the top five teams compete for a single promotion spot to the Super League, while the last two teams are relegated to League One.

The Challenge Cup

This event is another competition dominated mainly by the UK and France. Still, there have been past appearances by teams from Russia, Canada, and Serbia. The tournament started in 1896 and occurs almost every year.

Wigan Warriors are the most successful Challenge Cup participants. They have earned the trophy at least 20 times. Another remarkable record for the competition is the all-time high stadium attendance of 51,628 seats set at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May 2022, when Wigan lifted the trophy for the 20th time.

State-of-Origin Series

One of the most popular events to bet on is the state of origin series, an annual best-of-three competition between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. Queensland boasts the most titles, at least 23, while there have been 2 draws in the past.