Rugby World Cup Betting for South Africans (2024)

Hey South African rugby fans and betting enthusiasts! The Rugby World Cup is around the corner, and we're here to help you enjoy every moment with some exciting betting. Our guide is your playbook, giving you tips and tricks for smart bets and tons of fun.

Best Sportsbooks for betting on RWC
Written by James Mwaura
Verified by BettingGuide team
Last updated 2023/09/01

Bet On The Rugby World Cup!

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Best Sportsbooks for the 2023 Rugby World Cup

These are the best sportbooks for the Rugby World Cup this year:

Betway

#1 Betway

Betway remains to be the best option for South African fans who are interested in online rugby betting. Betway offers a wide range of rugby betting markets that cover various leagues and competitions, including South African international matches. Rugby league fans will also be pleased to know that they can bet on a variety of options that include Match Result (1X2), Overs/Unders, Double Chance, Draw No Bet, Handicap, Odd/Even, and Halftime/Fulltime among many others.

This bookmaker has fairly high odds, and you are advised to take advantage of their ante-post betting markets for both union and league versions of the Rugby World Cup, allowing early bettors to take advantage of the best value by placing their wagers well in advance.

Pros

  • Wide variety of Rugby markets
  • An amazing betting app
  • Plenty of Bonuses and offers

Cons

  • Not the best Customer support
Hollywoodbets

#2 Hollywoodbets

Hollywoodbets South Africa offers a diverse range of sports and events to bet on, including major sports and tournaments like soccer, rugby, cricket, golf, baseball, basketball, and virtual sports among others. The sportsbook provides ample betting opportunities to cater to different interests. The bookmaker has a keen interest in Rugby betting

To cater to the growing trend of mobile betting in South Africa, Hollywoodbets offers a seamless mobile experience. With the convenience of betting while on the move, the mobile site and app work flawlessly to provide the same great markets and odds as the desktop site. The app can be downloaded directly from the Hollywoodbets website, making it easily accessible for all customers.

Pros

  • A wide range of sports, competitions, and events.
  • Multiple betting choices, markets, and favourable odds.
  • Over two decades of expertise in the industry

Cons

  • The User interface can be challenging to navigate
Playa Bets

#3 PlayaBets

Driven by a focus on customer satisfaction, PlayaBets solidifies its position in the market as an increasing number of bettors appreciate its fresh and distinctive approach to sports and casino games. New customers are offered a massive R10 000 Welcome Bonus and a wealth of promotions, with a service that prioritizes the customer experience.

PlayaBets offers bettors a vast selection of sports betting options, including over 12,000 in-play betting options every month. Additionally, they boast a comprehensive betting service, featuring over 1,000 markets for each event. Yu could therefore access thousands of options when you use this bookie to bet with this year.

Pros

  • Amazing website design for easy navigation
  • A comprehensive mobile app for android and iOS
  • Variety of games to choose from

Cons

  • They don’t have a live-stream option

All You Need To Know About The Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is a quadrennial international tournament that is organized by the World Rugby. It is the biggest competition in the sport of rugby and the latest edition is being held in 2023. The tournament features 20 teams from around the world competing in 48 matches over the course of six weeks. The teams are divided into four pools, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the knockout stage. The winner of the tournament is crowned the world champion of rugby and earns the right to hold the William Webb Ellis Cup.

This year, the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be held from September 8th to October 28th, 2023 in France. In this article, we will tell you all about the Rugby World Cup, the teams, the playing format, and all that you need to know about rugby betting, and also tell you more about how to bet and win, with the best bookies!

The Qualified Countries

The qualification process for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France started during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The top three teams from each of the four pools in the 2019 tournament automatically qualified for the 2023 World Cup. Additionally, eight more teams qualified through regional competitions, play-offs between regions, and a special tournament called "repechage". These additional teams are also able to participate in the 2023 World Cup in France, which involves 20 teams. The qualified teams for this year’s tournament are:

Pool A New Zealand, France, Italy, Uruguay & Namibia
Pool B South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga & Romania
Pool C Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia & Portugal
Pool D England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa & Chile

Rugby Would Cup Schedule

  • 14th and 15th October - Quarter Finals
  • 20th and 21st October - Semi Finals
  • 27th October - Third Place Play-Off
  • 28th October - World Cup Final (Stade de France)

Rugby World Cup Format

The winner of the Rugby World Cup is determined by a knockout tournament format. The tournament typically involves 20 teams divided into four pools of five teams each. The 5 teams play each other once in their pool, and the top 2 teams from each pool advance to the knockout stage, which is a single-elimination tournament. The knockout stage starts with quarterfinals, followed by semi-finals, and finally the final match to determine the winner of the Rugby World Cup.

The Rugby World Cup, first held in 1987, has crowned several talented and successful teams as champions over the years. New Zealand, arguably one of the greatest rugby nations in the world, has won the tournament three times, in 1987, 2011, and 2015. The All Blacks, as they are affectionately known, have dominated the sport for decades with their unique playing style and unrivalled success on the international stage.

On the other hand, South Africa, the 1995 champions, and Australia, the 1991 and 1999 champions, have each won the tournament twice. These two teams have had a fierce rivalry for many years and their matches are always highly anticipated events.

It's worth mentioning that despite the success of these teams, the Rugby World Cup remains one of the most unpredictable and exciting sporting events, with surprises and upsets happening every tournament. The unpredictability of the tournament adds to the excitement and makes the competition even more thrilling for fans.

Defending Champions

South Africa won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, beating England 32-12. This was their third win, making them one of the greatest rugby nations. Cheslin Kolbe scored a memorable try in the final. The next World Cup is approaching and South Africa is looking strong. Betting on the defending champions is a safe bet. Keep an eye on standout players and remember their past victory. Place your bets on the South African Rugby team!

Betting On The World Cup Rugby For South Africans

Betting on the Rugby World Cup is a popular activity for South Africans, who are known for their love of rugby. The 2023 tournament in France provides a wealth of opportunities for fans to place wagers and possibly win. These are some of the best bookies you could consider when placing bets.

Types Of Betting Available For The Rugby World Cup 2023

There are several types of betting available for the Rugby World Cup 2023, including:

  • Outright winner: This type of bet involves betting on the team you think will win the Rugby World Cup.

  • Match betting: This type of bet involves betting on the outcome of individual matches, such as which team will win, the scoreline, or the margin of victory.

  • Handicap betting: This type of bet involves giving one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage in order to even out the odds. For example, you might bet on a team minus 3 points, meaning they need to win the match by 4 or more points to win the bet.

  • Total points betting: This type of bet involves betting on the total number of points that will be scored in a match. You can bet on the total number of points being over or under a set amount.

  • First scorer betting: This type of bet involves betting on the player who will score the first try in a match.

  • Specials betting: This type of bet involves betting on unique or specific outcomes of a match, such as the number of yellow cards, the number of tries, or which player will score the most points.

Tips for Betting on the Rugby World Cup 2023

  • Research on the teams

Analyze each team's recent form, players' performance, and injuries. For instance, if a team has a strong defense but their star scrum half is out due to injury, this may impact their chances of winning.

  • Keep up with the latest news

Stay informed of any changes to the teams, weather conditions, injuries, new additions, and the named squads, among other factors that may affect the outcome of the matches. For example, if a team is playing in adverse weather conditions, this may impact their style of play and result.

  • Bet on multiple outcomes

Consider betting on multiple outcomes, such as the winner of the match, the number of points scored, or the first team to score. This increases your chances of winning and reduces your risk.

  • Consider the Odds offered

Understanding the odds is important because it is a high-profile tournament with a lot of attention from punters and bookmakers. The odds offered by different bookmakers can vary greatly, and by taking the time to compare the odds, you can ensure that you are getting the best value for your bet.

  • Set a budget

Decide on a budget for your betting and stick to it. Don't bet more than you can afford to lose, and don't chase losses by betting more.

FAQs

James is responsible for the South African market on BettingGuide. He has a keen interest in sports betting and Gambling laws in particular. James is a Lawyer practising in East Africa, loves writing, and has a Law Degree from Makerere University, Uganda and a Post Graduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law, Kenya.