How to Bet on the Rugby Championship
Betting on the Rugby Championship runs from one long outright bet to a full card of markets on every Test, plus the sub-trophies decided inside it. Here is how each works, with the South African angle in mind.
The main markets
- Outright title — one of the four nations to top the table; see the The Rugby Championship odds page.
- Match result — the winner of a single Test, with a draw priced for these tight games.
- Handicap — a points start or deficit to level an uneven fixture; see handicap betting.
- Total points — over or under a line on the combined score; see over/under.
- Winning margin and first try scorer — popular within each Test.
- In-play — live betting through each match; see in-play betting.
The sub-trophy bets
Four trophies are settled inside the Championship, each its own market. The Freedom Cup (South Africa v New Zealand), Mandela Challenge Plate (South Africa v Australia), Bledisloe Cup (New Zealand v Australia) and Puma Trophy (Australia v Argentina) are each decided across the two meetings between those sides — the holder keeps the trophy on a drawn series, so a challenger generally needs to win both Tests. The Bok pairings, the Freedom Cup and Mandela Plate, draw the most local betting.
A sensible approach
These are evenly matched Test sides, so heavy favourites are rarer than in a World Cup pool — the handicap and total points often read the contest better than a short-odds match result. An accumulator across a round of favourites is popular but risky — one upset and it is gone. See the Rugby Championship guide for the full picture and the The Rugby Championship predictions page for our take.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest Rugby Championship bet to start with?
The match result — backing the winner of a single Test. From there, the handicap and total points add value, especially when two sides are unevenly matched.
How do the sub-trophies settle for betting?
Each — Freedom Cup, Mandela Challenge Plate, Bledisloe Cup, Puma Trophy — is decided over the two Tests those teams play. The holder retains it on a drawn series, so a challenger usually needs to win both meetings.