With next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan rapidly approaching, many are already beginning to plan their bets for the eagerly-anticipated tournament. The 2019 edition of the finals will be the first tournament to be staged in Asia, signifying the ever-growing audience and participation of the sport worldwide.
When the tournament comes around one site that would be good to check out is TeamFA as they offer free betting tips on all aspects Rugby Union, as well as pretty much every other sport you can imagine! They have a page on their website dedicated exclusively to Rugby Union, here you can find recommended bets, previews and news. They get their bets out early, so keep an eye on their site for the latest 2019 World Cup betting tips.
Betting responsibly and only betting what you can afford should of course always be the priority. If you do this then there’s no reason why betting on rugby union shouldn’t further enhance your enjoyment of the sport.
What type of bets to choose?
Accumulators are often the go-to bet for punters looking for a bet on any sport. However, union can differ slightly with many short prices due to miss-match in quality of the teams, with punters preferring to go for handicap bets rather than traditional outright bets.
Handicap bets, if you’re unfamiliar with them, involve the favourite being ‘handicapped’, so a minus-two handicap bet will mean that your team must win by at least three points in order for your bet to win, as this bet means your team has effectively started off on -2 instead of 0.
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With union being almost-certainly one of the most physically demanding sports in the world, injuries can quickly rack-up. With gruelling club schedules also a factor, as well as the playing conditions and atmosphere in Japan next year, which may be a new experience for a lot of the players featuring.
Who will you be backing outright?
New Zealand retained the cup by defeating rivals Australia in 2015 at Twickenham. The All Blacks will be out to once more retain their title, and claim a record fourth World Cup trophy.
New Zealand are currently favourites with pretty much all bookmakers to do just that, and win the tournament once more. Current world number two, Ireland, are second in the betting odds following on from their Six Nations grand-slam triumph. Meanwhile, England are the third-favourites in the betting odds, with fans dreaming of more moments like Johnny Wilkinson’s last-minute drop-goal that claimed England’s only ever World Cup crown back in 2003.