Rugby World Cup 2023 Betting Guide, Free Bets & Latest Tips
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Rugby World Cup 2023
The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets underway on the 8th of September. There could hardly be a better game to start the tournament than the hosts, France, taking on New Zealand in the game that will realistically decide Pool A.
New Zealand and South Africa have won this tournament on three separate occasions, so each will be desperate for a fourth to separate them from the best in the sport. Ireland have failed to make it beyond the quarter-final stage of this tournament in the past, but they are the number-one team in the world. Could this be the year they finally make a run?
Rugby World Cup Tips
The 2023 Rugby World Cup looks full of exciting betting opportunities. Two of those punters will look to get stuck into are the tournament winner and a pool winner acca. Both bets can keep interest high over a period of time.
Outright Winner
It might be a bit boring, but the All Blacks have been hitting their stride this year after a below-par 2022, so New Zealand is very much the team to beat. They have been shortened as favourites in recent weeks, and justifiably so, given their performances.
The games will start tough for them, with the opener against France and then Ireland or South Africa at the quarter-final stage. An easy semi potentially awaits from the other side of the draw ahead of another big clash in the final when they hopefully get there.
Pool Acca
Two of the four pools have very short-priced favourites in Australia and England, while the others are much tighter at the top. We think New Zealand are the team to beat in the tournament and expect Ireland to have the best World Cup they have ever had.
So those would be our four for a pool winner acca - New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and England.
Rugby World Cup Betting Markets
Before the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off, markets like the outright winner and the winners of each pool will be the most popular for punters to get stuck into. They are bets that hopefully give punters a run for their money over time.
Once the World Cup is underway, the match-winner market is the easiest one for punters to solve, though short-priced favourites for many games should see plenty of action with handicap betting. Built to level the playing field, the favourite giving the underdog a hypothetical points start makes for an exciting chase as the scores begin to close.
If the handicap market is not quite what you are looking for, the winning margin may be your bet of choice. Pick which team will win and by how many points, and sit back to enjoy the game.
The try scorer market is one for the slightly more adventurous. You can pick a player to score first, last or anytime, similar to how many punters will do in football matches. Also, a football favourite, you can find half-time/full-time markets on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Look out for specials and boosted prices on various betting markets during the competition at different bookmakers. These are a great way to squeeze a little bit extra out of these markets, and with competition between the bookies being fierce, punters can benefit.
Of course, you’ll also find many, many more bets available to place.
Rugby World Cup Pools
Pool A
Pool A contains the hosts France against New Zealand, Italy, Namibia and Uruguay. The tournament’s first game looks set to determine the teams who will finish first and second as France takes on New Zealand. That pair are a class apart from the other three, so it would be a big shock to see any of them take a big scalp here.
That makes the opening contest even more of an exciting game than would already have been the case. Both teams will be desperate to get off to the perfect start and claim the top spot in the group. A tough quarter-final match-up is coming no matter what order they finish, but the bragging rights will be huge.
Pool B
Ireland takes on South Africa, Scotland, Romania and Tonga in Pool B. It is difficult to imagine that Romania or Tonga will be good enough to make an impact. Still, Scotland will relish the opportunity to play spoiler in this group. Whether they will be good enough to claim a win over the big pair remains to be seen, but there is no doubt they will be up for it.
The pool should be between Ireland and South Africa, the world number 1 and the triple World Cup winners. They clash on the 23rd of September, so both will have had a couple of games by that point to grow into the tournament. The winner of the group will be decided here.
Pool C
In Pool C, Australia and Wales are the two bigger teams, with Georgia, Fiji and Portugal filling out the group. Australia slipped to 9th in the world last year, the lowest they have ever been in the rankings. They will face Wales on the 24th of September, with the Welsh team hitting a low point of 10th earlier this year.
Fiji are right behind the pair in the rankings, and while they are probably a touch flattered by that, they will give both Australia and Wales enough of a test. They can not afford to be complacent taking on Fiji, though wins against both Georgia and Portugal should be fairly automatic, even though neither Australia nor Wales are close to their best these days.
Pool D
The final pool contains England, Argentina, Chile, Japan and Samoa. England have drawn the easiest group, so they should top the table when all is said and done. It might not be quite as clear cut as that, given Argentina have the talent to cause shocks against the best teams, so they will like their chances of going through in the second spot.
Both Samoa and Japan have some talent in their ranks and arrive within the top 12 in the world. They should not be good enough to beat the big two in the group but should enjoy a private battle for the middle spot in the pool when they clash on the 28th of September. While Chile can enjoy their first World Cup tournament, but look set to pick up no points.
Rugby World Cup Schedule
- Group Stages - Friday, 8 September - Sunday, 9 October
- Quarter Finals - Saturday, 14 October & Sunday, 15 October
- Semi-Finals - Friday, 20 October & Saturday, 21 October
- Bronze Final - Friday 27 October
- Final - Saturday, 28 October
Past Rugby World Cup Winners
Only four countries have lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy - New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England.
- 1987 - New Zealand
- 1991 - Australia
- 1995 - South Africa
- 1999 - Australia
- 2003 - England
- 2007 - South Africa
- 2011 - New Zealand
- 2015 - New Zealand
- 2019 - South Africa
Who are the Rugby World Cup Favourites?
While there are some shocks in games in rugby union, in general, the World Cup has tended to be won by those towards the head of the betting. As such, it is worth having a closer look at the favourites for the 2023 tournament.
New Zealand - 3/1
The All Blacks are favourites to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and in their current form, that is understandable. They have already won three Rugby World Cups, tied with South Africa, so they would relish another to take the outright lead. They will be captained by Sam Cane, who has had his controversies in the past but has taken this role and grown into it. His leadership will be crucial to their chance.
France - 7/2
France are one of the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup 2023. They are the current world number two ranked team, and they have a strong squad with a mix of experience and youth. They will be playing at home, which will give them a significant advantage. They have a number of dangerous players in their backline, including Antoine Dupont and Damian Penaud, who are excellent at creating opportunities from broken play.
South Africa - 9/2
If the Springboks are to win a fourth World Cup, then Eben Etzebeth will have a significant role to play. Already one of the most capped players in Springboks history, his size and strength make a massive difference to the team, and he has picked up a couple of tries in the last 12 months to boot. How they do against Ireland in their pool will potentially set the tone for their tournament.
Ireland - 5/1
While they are yet to get beyond the quarter-final stage at a World Cup, hopes will be high in Ireland that this is the year. Ranked the best team in the world, the Six Nations champions will be hoping Josh van der Flier is in try-scoring form. Against New Zealand and South Africa in 2022, van der Flier scored a try in games Ireland went on to win.
How to Pick the Best Rugby World Cup Betting Sites
If you are looking to enjoy a bet at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, having a wide range of accounts will give you the best chance of getting the most out of it. When it comes to finding the best betting site, how good their odds are compared to their competitors is crucial. No one bookies will be top odds all the time, so being able to take the most competitive odds as often as you can is key.
Often, there will be boosts to be had during these major tournaments. With the home nations all involved, watch for special odds boosts on their games. These might be on a wide range of markets, from the match winner to the first-try scorer, so pick a bookie where you will get a boost here and there.
With the growth of markets like bet builders, more and more bookies are adding to their range of betting markets, which has been a big plus for punters. Niche markets can allow those with a strong knowledge of the sport to spot a price that is too big and capitalise.
Another essential piece of the puzzle when choosing a bookie that a lot will underestimate is the look of their site. Using a bookie with a well-laid-out set of odds will make it easier to find the markets you want. Extra points again if their in-play betting offering is strong, so you can get involved while the games are already in action.
Rugby World Cup FAQs
When Is The Next Rugby World Cup?
The Rugby World Cup is held every four years and the next tournament will be be held in 2023.
Which Team Has Won The Most Rugby World Cups?
New Zealand and South Africa have both won the Rugby World Cup on three occasions.
Have England Won The Rugby World Cup?
Yes, England have won the Rugby World Cup, defeating Australia in the 2003 final courtesy of an extra-time drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson.
What channel is the Rugby World Cup on?
ITV have the exclusive broadcast rights for the Rugby World Cup in the UK with matches set to be shown across the range of ITV channels.
Where is the Rugby World Cup 2023?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is being hosted France.
Latest Betting Offers
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