Although rugby is not a major sport associated with Asian countries, it has been gaining popularity among 31 members of the Asia Rugby Union. Singapore, in particular, has been the focal point for rugby. With its rich history as a former British colony, Singapore has introduced rugby as one of the most profitable sports in Singapore online sport betting.
The Rugby World Cup is among the most anticipated rugby events in history. Not only because of its thrilling experience but also the betting opportunities it can give to the fans and bettors. As the 2023 Rugby World Cup approaches, punters are eyeing fixtures, schedules, favoured teams, and betting markets and odds.
If you plan to bet on this year’s Rugby World Cup, here’s what you should know:
When and Where Will the 2023 Rugby World Cup Take Place?
This year’s Rugby World Cup will begin on September 8 and end with the championship match on October 28. Its duration is longer than the past seasons to ensure that every team will have at least five rest days between games. In early 2021, the event organisers confirmed the changes in rest periods to improve players’ welfare and playing conditions.
Additionally, the 2023 Rugby World Cup will happen in France across nine stadiums, including:
- Stade de France – Saint-Denis (Paris)
- Stade Velodrome – Marseille
- Parc Olympique Lyonnais – Lyon
- Stade Pierre-Mauroy – Lille
- Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux – Bordeaux
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard – Saint-Étienne
- Allianz Riviera – Nice
- Stade de la Beaujoire – Nantes
- Stadium Municipal – Toulouse
The final match will take place at the biggest stadium in France – Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris. It will be the third time France will host the Rugby World Cup and split the matches into nine different stadiums and cities.
Who are the Qualified Teams?
Twenty (20) teams have qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They have been categorised into four pools with five members each.
Pool A
New Zealand, France, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia
Pool B
South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania
Pool C
Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal
Pool D
England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile
Who are the Frontrunners?
South Africa will compete as the reigning champion after they blocked New Zealand’s attempt to become the first country to win three consecutive titles. That win marked South Africa’s third championship title, making them the most successful team in World Cup history.
Apart from South Africa and New Zealand, Australia is one of the frontrunner teams, winning two final matches in recent years. At the same time, England triumphed in a single event in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson broke the hearts of the Australian team in an extra-time win.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup’s Favoured Teams
South Africa
Unsurprisingly, South Africa constantly shows up as one of the major contenders in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As the reigning champion, they will do anything to defend their championship title. While they only participated seven times in the tournament, this team has won the most championships in history, with three World Cup titles.
England
England is where rugby originated. They also played the first-ever international rugby tournament against Scotland in 1871 and continuously participated in every World Cup season.
With their eagerness and determination to make their country proud, they won the Rugby World Cup title in 2003. Since then, England has been craving a new victory every season.
France
France has the highest number of registered rugby players in the world. While they have a great rugby culture, the team hopes for their first World Cup championship title. All three of their final matches were lost, but the team is still confident they can win this season with their co-players.
New Zealand
New Zealand is known for its impressive Haka before the game. This performance challenges opponents on any sports field, showing strength and physical prowess. However, real rugby fans know that the New Zealand team not only impresses but also performs excellent plays during the game.
Wales
Rugby is considered a national sport in Wales. Since the development of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, the country has promoted more than three hundred rugby clubs for its people. In the 1970s, Wales was one of the strongest teams, but because Rugby World Cup did not exist then, it did not get the chance to get a world title.
Furthermore, Wales always competes in the Six Nations Tournament, allowing them to enhance their skills and strategies in the game. As they qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the other teams must watch out for their players as they are focused on winning the championship match.
Ireland
Another team to watch out for is Ireland. They have the best players from the Northern and Republic of Ireland, making them one of the best contenders in any rugby event. This team regularly participates in tournaments such as Six Nations, the Autumn Cup, and Rugby World Cup.
The Irish national team topped the World Rugby rankings in 2022 and 2023. They are selected based on their game results and performance. With their consistent plays, competitors must know Ireland will not compete just for fun this season. This team has the character and skills to conquer the 2023 Rugby World Cup title.
Japan
Japan was the host of last year’s Rugby World Cup. However, they ended their journey after losing in the quarterfinals against the reigning champion—South Africa. They are known as a good all-round team as they know precisely the right time for defence and offense.
Betting on the 2023 Rugby World Cup
If you plan to bet on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, it is essential to understand some of the basic information, like schedules, fixtures, favoured teams, and Singapore Pools live odds. Apart from these factors, it would help if you familiarised yourself with different betting markets. Here are some of the betting options you can try:
Player Betting
This betting option lets you wager on individual players throughout the match. Before placing your bets, you must analyse their form, attacking strategies, and previous plays. Below are some of its betting markets:
First Try Scorer Bet
In this market, you need to guess which player will be the first to score a try in the tournament. However, the conditions might change depending on your bookmaker. Sometimes, they will allow you to guess the position of the first-try scorer or the player to score the first try every halftime.
Top Scoring Player
This bet type involves predicting which player will finish the game with the highest accumulated points. The total points must include tries, conversions, penalty goals, and drop goals.
Team Betting
Team betting involves wagering on the entire team. Like player betting, you should analyse their form, team strategies, performances, and other elements that can influence the game. Here are some examples of team betting markets:
The First Team to Score a Try
This bet is somehow similar to the player betting option. However, the only difference is that you are betting on a team, not an individual. You must correctly predict which team will score the first try in the match to win your bet.
Winning Margin
This type of bet involves betting on the winning margin of the game. The margin of victory refers to the point difference between the winning and losing teams. For example, if the final score is 4-5, the winning margin is 1 point.
Where to Bet on the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
Before the 2023 Rugby World Cup starts, finding a reputable sports betting website is advisable. One of the best options is 88ProAsia—the trusted online sports betting platform in Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian countries. Besides rugby, we offer reliable and safe betting experiences for sports like basketball, volleyball, and football. Register for an account here.
