- How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Union, League and Sevens
- Scoring in Rugby: Union vs League
- How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: The Main Markets
- How Rugby Odds Work: Decimal Odds and Implied Probability
- How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Worked Examples
- How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: What to Check First
- Competitions You Will See on the Coupon
- How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Common Mistakes
- Betting on Rugby in Nigeria
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to bet on rugby for beginners: where should I start?
- What is the difference between rugby union and rugby league betting?
- Do rugby bets include extra time?
- What does −8.5 mean in a rugby handicap?
- Can I bet on rugby sevens?
How to bet on rugby for beginners is simpler than it looks, once you know which code you are watching. Rugby has two main codes, union and league, plus a fast, short form called sevens, and each one scores points in a different way. For that reason, the first skill in rugby betting is reading the coupon correctly. This guide covers the scoring tables, the main markets and the mistakes that catch most beginners.
Last updated: November 2026
Quick Answer:
- Rugby union has 15 players per side and a try is worth 5 points. Rugby league has 13 players per side and a try is worth 4 points.
- Most rugby bets settle on the result after 80 minutes, not extra time.
- Decimal odds of 2.50 mean a ₦1,000 stake returns ₦2,500 if the bet wins.
- Start with match-winner or handicap bets on 15-a-side union, and stake only what you can afford to lose.
How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Union, League and Sevens
First of all, rugby is not one game. There are two main codes, union and league, plus sevens, and bookmakers list them as separate sports. As a result, betting on the wrong code is the single most common beginner error in rugby. For example, a try is worth 5 points in union and 4 in league.
| Format | Players | Match length | Biggest competitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby union | 15 | 80 minutes | Rugby World Cup, Six Nations |
| Rugby league | 13 | 80 minutes | NRL, Super League |
| Rugby sevens | 7 | 14 minutes | HSBC SVNS Series, Olympic Games |
Secondly, union is the globally dominant code. League is biggest in Australia (NRL) and northern England (Super League).
Thirdly, a rugby match only ends once the ball goes dead after the clock passes 80 minutes. In other words, a team can keep the ball alive “into the red” and score after 80:00. For that reason, beginners should start with 15-a-side union.
Scoring in Rugby: Union vs League
Above all, the scoring tables are the heart of this guide. Mix them up and every total and handicap line reads wrong.
| Score | Points | How |
|---|---|---|
| Try | 5 | Ground the ball in-goal |
| Conversion | 2 | Kick after a try |
| Penalty goal | 3 | Kick after a penalty offence |
| Drop goal | 3 | Drop kick through posts |
| Penalty try | 7 | Foul play stops a probable try; no conversion |
A converted try is worth 7 points in total in union (5 + 2). The penalty try is also worth 7, but no kick follows.
| Score | Points | How |
|---|---|---|
| Try | 4 | Ground the ball in-goal |
| Conversion | 2 | Kick after a try |
| Penalty goal | 2 | Kick after a penalty offence |
| Drop goal / field goal | 1 | Drop kick through posts |
| Penalty try | 4 + conversion | Try between the posts, then a conversion attempt |
A converted try in league is worth 6 points (4 + 2). In the NRL, a field goal from beyond the 40-metre line is worth 2 points since 2021.
In short, union rewards the kick and league rewards the try. Never mix the two tables.
How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: The Main Markets
To begin with, the main rugby markets will look familiar if you have bet on football.
| Market | What it means | Beginner notes |
|---|---|---|
| Match winner / 1X2 | Pick home win, draw or away win | Settles on the 80-minute result, not extra time. |
| Handicap / spread | The favourite starts with a virtual deficit (for example −8.5) | The most popular rugby market. |
| Totals (points or tries) | Combined points or tries over or under a line (over/under 45.5) | Over 45.5 wins on 46 or more. |
| Winning margin | Pick the winner and the size of the win, in bands (1–10, 11–20, 21+) | Harder than a handicap, but the odds are bigger. |
| Half-time / full-time | Predict the leader at half-time and the winner at full-time | A team can lead at half-time and lose. |
| Try scorer (first / anytime / last) | Pick a player to score first, any time or last | Wingers and fullbacks are usually shortest-priced. |
| Outrights / tournament winner | Pick the winner of a competition | Odds shorten as the tournament goes on. |
| Live / in-play | Bet during the match as odds move | A converted try swings 7 points at once. |
The 1X2 market is the simplest place to start: pick a home win, a draw or an away win.
A live bet lets you stake during the match as the odds move.
Finally, remember what settles when: unless a market says otherwise, rugby bets settle on the result after 80 minutes, not extra time.
How Rugby Odds Work: Decimal Odds and Implied Probability
In general, rugby odds work the same way as in other sports, and reading them correctly is the first step in how to bet on rugby for beginners. Decimal odds show the total return for every ₦1 staked, stake included. For example, odds of 2.50 mean a ₦1,000 stake returns ₦2,500 if the bet wins.
Implied probability tells you what the bookmaker thinks the chance of an outcome is. The formula is simple: implied probability = 1 ÷ decimal odds × 100. For instance, odds of 2.50 imply a 40% chance (1 ÷ 2.50 = 0.40). Odds of 1.50 imply about 67%.
However, the bookmaker’s margin means the implied probabilities add up to more than 100%. The maths works the same way as in our guide on how to bet on cricket for beginners.
How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Worked Examples
Firstly, take a simple match-winner bet. You stake ₦1,000 on a team to win at decimal odds of 2.50.
- Return if the bet wins: ₦1,000 × 2.50 = ₦2,500
- Profit: ₦2,500 − ₦1,000 = ₦1,500
- Implied probability: 1 ÷ 2.50 × 100 = 40%
Secondly, take a handicap bet at −8.5 points. If the final score is 28–15, the favourite won by 13 points, so the bet wins. If the final score is 22–15, the favourite won by only 7 points, so the bet loses, even though the team won the match.
Thirdly, take a totals bet at over/under 45.5 points. A 28–20 final score totals 48 points, so over wins. A 24–18 final score totals 42 points, so under wins.
How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: What to Check First
Before you stake, check these six things.
Firstly, check the weather. Rain and wind change rugby more than football. A wet ball means more handling errors and fewer tries.
Secondly, check team news and injuries. Rugby squads are small and physical, so losing a starting fly-half changes a team’s scoring power far more than one absence in football.
Thirdly, remember home advantage. Teams generally perform better at home, as in most sports. However, no reliable percentage measures that edge.
Fourthly, look at playing style. Some teams kick for territory and take penalty goals; others run the ball and chase tries.
Fifthly, watch the cards. A yellow card means 10 minutes with one player fewer. In addition, World Rugby is trialling a 20-minute red card in elite competitions from August 2025. Under the trial, a player sent off for non-deliberate foul play is permanently removed, but the team may replace them after 20 minutes.
Finally, check the competition context. A team that has already qualified, or is resting players before a bigger match, may field a weakened side.
Competitions You Will See on the Coupon
The Rugby World Cup is the sport’s biggest event. It takes place every four years, and South Africa are the defending champions, having beaten New Zealand 12–11 in the 2023 final in France. That win was a record fourth title for South Africa, after 1995, 2007 and 2019.
Meanwhile, the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) is played every year, and France are the current holders. Knowing these competitions helps when you learn how to bet on rugby for beginners.
How to Bet on Rugby for Beginners: Common Mistakes
Avoid these seven mistakes.
- Betting union with league scoring in mind — a try is 5 in union and 4 in league.
- Forgetting that 1X2 settles on 80 minutes.
- Chasing long first-try-scorer odds. Picking one player out of 30 to score first is genuinely hard.
- Betting on sevens like it is 15-a-side. A sevens match lasts 14 minutes, and one converted try can decide it.
- Ignoring the weather and the team sheet. A wet pitch and a missing fly-half change the totals picture.
- Staking money you cannot afford to lose, or chasing losses after a bad weekend.
- Treating a big favourite’s short odds as safe. Odds of 1.10 imply about 91%.
Betting on Rugby in Nigeria
Sports betting is legal for adults in Nigeria, but regulation is state-led: the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, so no operator should be described as licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission as the general rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to bet on rugby for beginners: where should I start?
Start with 15-a-side union, not sevens or league. The approach is the same as in our guide on how to bet on tennis for beginners.
What is the difference between rugby union and rugby league betting?
Union has 15 players and a try is worth 5 points; league has 13 players and a try is worth 4 points.
Do rugby bets include extra time?
In most cases, no. Rugby bets usually settle on the result after 80 minutes plus stoppage time.
What does −8.5 mean in a rugby handicap?
It means the favourite starts 8.5 points down. The favourite must win by 9 points or more.
Can I bet on rugby sevens?
Yes. However, a sevens match lasts only 14 minutes, so one try can decide the whole match.
In short, rugby betting rewards the bettor who knows the code first and the teams second — and that is how to bet on rugby for beginners. Above all, learn the scoring tables and check the weather and the team sheet before you stake.
Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Betting is entertainment, not a way to make money. Only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, visit our Responsible Gambling page for help and support.
