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Rugby Betting Online

If there's anything South Africans love more than a boerie roll and a bezza, it's rugby. The heart-pumping sport has captured the hearts of around 10 million South Africans. That's a lot of Bokke supporters!


And with the growth of online betting, it's never been easier to place wagers on your favourite teams and players. Online rugby betting allows you to access a variety of markets, odds, and promotions. But with so many betting options available in SA, it can be challenging to figure out where to start.


Don’t worry. We’ve got your back bru. This article will help you understand the basics of rugby betting online and provide tips on finding the best betting sites in South Africa. Whether you're an experienced punter or a newbie, we’ll help you get the most out of your wagers.

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Written by

Patrick Meyer
Patrick Meyer

The Best Rugby Betting Sites in South Africa 2024

How We Rank Top Rugby Betting Sites

Each recommended website is put through our comprehensive assessment process to determine the best. All websites we recommend have the essential features of a reputable online casino. Below are some of the vital factors we considered while compiling our list of the top rugby sites in South Africa.

Licence

Security and Licensing

Regarding betting sites, we only recommend those licensed and regulated by reputable gambling authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This way, we can be sure that the site is safe and secure.

We also check the websites for the latest security measures, such as data encryption software. This is to ensure that the privacy of sensitive personal and financial information is not compromised and is not at risk of being shared.

Payment Options

Payment Methods

The last thing we want is for you to win a bet and then not be able to withdraw your winnings. Therefore, we love to see e-wallets such as PayPal, Trustly, Skrill, Neteller, Apple Pay, and ecoPayz as payment methods available on the sites. Additionally, it is beneficial if cryptocurrency choices for quick deposits and withdrawals are accepted.

Customer Support

Customer Support

A good customer support team can help you resolve any issues or answer any questions, which is especially important if you are new to online betting. We check to see if the site offers 24/7 support or if there are specific hours when help is available. The support team should also be reachable through various channels, such as email, live chat, or phone. 

We also check out how quickly the support team responds to inquiries; this can indicate how efficiently issues are resolved. The support team should be knowledgeable and well-informed about rugby betting.

Betting Odds

Rugby Odds

Although we recognise that bookies exploit margins to gain an advantage over punters, we take great pride in helping you find the best value. During our review, we evaluate various platforms' odds side-by-side. This enables us to identify the websites with the most competitive prices.

Betting Bonuses

Bonus Offers

Before adding a betting site to our recommended list, we investigate their sign-up bonuses to ensure they meet our standards. If a betting website is serious about differentiating from the competition, we want to see that they offer rewards with significant value. It’s vital that the terms and conditions are not restrictive. We also look for ongoing promotions for returning players.

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Mobile Compatibility

Since most South Africans use mobile devices to bet, having a mobile casino is an essential factor in our selection process. The top rugby bookies provide betting experiences that are fully optimised for mobile use. Some go further to feature downloadable betting applications for iOS and Android devices, just to ease player experience.

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Industry Reputation

The websites that have been around the longest and have the best reputations are given preference. We also pay attention to what other gamblers say about their experiences while using the websites.

Sports Restriction

Rugby Markets

When choosing the best sites for rugby, we believe that the more variety available, the more enjoyable the overall experience will be. Therefore, we prefer betting websites that give users access to different types of markets to wager on. Players should be able to place bets on everything, from who will have the most tries scored at a Rugby World Cup to who will win every possible match bet.

How to Get Started With Rugby Betting Online

Betting on rugby is very similar to betting on any other sport. However, as a newbie, it can be overwhelming. Below, we’ll guide you with tips on how to get started on your rugby betting journey.

Create an Account

The first step is creating an account with your preferred rugby betting site. You’ll need to fill in necessary information like your name, date of birth, and email address. You can then log in to your account using your details.

Deposit Funds

To engage in rugby betting online, you’ll need to deposit funds into your account. You can check out the payment options available on the site and choose the most convenient one. Then, deposit an amount while keeping in mind the minimum deposit allowed on the platform.

Place Your Bets

Look through the available events by going to the sports page and navigating to the rugby section. Then enter your choices into the bet slip and check the odds on the market. Make any necessary adjustments to your bet, then proceed to place your wagers.

Rugby Match Types

There are several types of rugby matches, each with its own unique set of rules and regulations. From the fast-paced sevens format to the traditional 15-a-side game, rugby offers something for everyone. Below, we will take a closer look at the different types of rugby matches and what makes each one unique.

Rugby League

The Super League and the National Rugby League (NRL) are the two most prestigious club championships for rugby league. The Super League season begins in the spring and continues through the summer months. It includes the Magic Weekend and play-offs before concluding with the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

There are 13 players on each side, which allows for more space than in rugby union.There is no competition for the ball during tackles, rucks, scrums, and mauls, as there is in the union. When players are tackled to the ground, they simply roll the ball between their legs to a waiting player, allowing the game to continue. Teams are allowed to keep the ball for a total of six tackles before handing it over to the opposing team.

Rugby Union (15 a-side)

The 15-a-side game is one of the most popular rugby formats, attracting 400 million television viewers across the globe each year. The game is highly technical, with many laws open to interpretation by the referee on the day. Lineouts and scrums require a high level of skill and technique to execute correctly.

There’s a lot of kicking in the game because who can claim the most territory often determines who wins. In the traditional rugby format, each side consists of 15 players. They’re divided equally between the forwards and the backs. A 15s rugby match is broken into two halves that each last for 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break between each half.

Rugby Union 7s

The Rugby Union 7s format reduces the number of players on each team to seven and shortens the length of each half to seven minutes. This tests players' fitness and skill levels in a much different and more extreme manner than rugby 15s.

Rugby 7s is widely considered to be more exciting than the traditional version of rugby. From November through August, players on a global scale take part in tournaments and one-off events, which offer an unforgettable atmosphere.

Big Events for Rugby Betting

Several big events in the world of rugby draw the attention of fans and bettors from all over the world. These events offer the opportunity for South African bettors to place wagers on their favourite teams and players. Below, we will explore some of the biggest events in the world of rugby betting and what makes them such attractive destinations for bettors.

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World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is, without a doubt, the most prestigious competition in the sport. There is a Rugby World Cup for both union and league. In addition, there are two Rugby World Cup tournaments, one for men and one for women. Both events are held every four years, usually to avoid clashing with other rugby events. The union competition often receives a great deal of interest from rugby fans in South Africa.

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Six Nations

The Six Nations is arguably the world's largest rugby tournament. The annual competition pits teams from England, Ireland, Italy, Wales, Scotland, and France against one another. The Six Nations features all-male teams, but there is also the Women's Home Nations, a competition between all-female teams from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The annual Six Nations tournament takes place in the springtime in Great Britain.

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Champions Cup

For many people who are passionate about rugby in South Africa, the Rugby Championship is the most exciting event of the year. Unfortunately, the global epidemic caused South Africa to withdraw from The Rugby Championship in 2020, despite winning the tournament in 2019.

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Challenge Cup

As 2017 marked the first year that the Rugby Challenge was staged, this competition is still in its infancy. The Rugby Challenge was created to take the place of the Vodacom Cup. Typically, the Challenge Cup format includes two pools of ten teams each. Teams are ranked according to their domestic league performance and then classified into three tiers.

The teams in their pool then play each other twice: once at home and once away. Following the pool stage, the top teams in each pool, as well as teams relegated from the Heineken Champions Cup, advance to the knockout stage. The remaining teams are ranked based on their pool performance during the knockout stage. The winners advance to the semi-finals, and the final is held in May at a predetermined location.

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Rugby League World Cup

This international rugby competition is regarded as the most important contest in the league category of the sport. The first world cup was held in 1954, and there have been 13 since then to commemorate the sport of rugby. The number of teams, rounds, and hosting rules have all changed significantly over time.

Currently, 16 teams are participating in the games, which are always hosted by one country across multiple venues. An official draw is made months in advance to determine who will play who during the World Cup.

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Rugby League Four Nations

The Four Nations is a premier rugby league tournament featuring four of the game's best international teams. It is more challenging than the Rugby League World Cup because the matches are more competitive, whereas the World Cup features several matches that involve weaker rugby league-playing nations. Rugby League Four Nations features teams from Australia, England, and New Zealand against a fourth nation.

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Rugby League European Championship

Moving on to the club level, the Rugby League European Championship is widely regarded as one of the most significant rugby union competitions. Each year, a total of 24 teams compete for the trophy. These teams come from various countries that are a part of the tournament.

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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a collection of tournaments that take place worldwide. Men's and women's national sevens compete against one another in these tournaments to earn series points. At the end of the season, a men's and a women's overall winner is determined.

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Rugby World Cup Sevens

Since Scotland played host to the inaugural World Cup Sevens competition in 1993, the sport's popularity has skyrocketed worldwide. The game has more athletic runners because only seven players are on each side. This makes it substantially more offensive than the standard game of rugby.

Popular Types of Rugby Bets

When it comes to deciding between different sites for betting on rugby, betting markets available are vital to take into consideration. We’ve listed a selection of some of the most popular types of rugby bets below.

Match winner

People place wagers on the team they believe will emerge victorious from a rugby match. This is the simplest form of the sport's wagering.

Handicap

Handicap bets are wagers placed on a team to win or lose within a margin that has been defined in advance. If a plus sign follows the team's name, it indicates that the team can afford to lose by up to this margin. Then, the bet will still be successful.

Total points

The Totals market offers a straightforward and exciting opportunity for those looking to wager on rugby. Sportsbooks predict an expected points total for each game. It's then up to you to wager on whether the game total will be over/under the point.

Winning Margin

You can place a wager on the score difference between the two teams in a rugby match. This type of wager will likely be offered for games where one team is widely regarded as the clear favourite.

Halftime/Fulltime

With more than one option to choose from on various events, players can have it all. Half-time and full-time outcomes offer a variety of possibilities ranging from the classic winner pick to exciting corner kicks bets or even guesswork predictions for cards and goals. In addition, you have the option of betting on the outcome both after the first half and after the complete game.

FAQs

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Where can I bet on rugby?

You can place bets on rugby at online betting sites. However, only gamble with reliable and secure platforms. To make your selection process easier, you can choose from our recommended list of the best rugby gambling sites in South Africa.

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How do you bet on rugby games?

To place a wager on rugby, you’ll need to visit a gambling site. Create an account with the gambling operator and make a real money deposit. Then, you'll be able to evaluate the rugby betting markets and place your wager.

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Can I bet online in South Africa?

Yes, you can. Gambling became legal with the passage of the National Gambling Act in 1996, and in 2004, a National Gambling Policy Council was incorporated into the Act to ensure policy alignment in both provincial and national governments.

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Where can I place a free bet?

You can place a free bet on rugby on online betting sites that provide a free play on the sport.

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Can you just bet on a team to win?

Yes, you can. Bettors place wagers on the outcome of a game using a moneyline, which focuses solely on the winner. This bet type doesn’t involve any point spreads or winning margins at all.

Author Patrick Meyer portrait
Patrick MeyerFactCheckIcon

Product Owner and Editor

Patrick is the face of Onlinegamblingsa.co.za - he joined us years ago as a freelance writer and came up through the ranks to become an indispensable part of the team. He's our secret weapon, our gambling expert and a massively talented writer with a knack to make complicated things simple, all while writing with journalistic objectivity.

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