Written by
Chris Flavell
Last time updated
09/19/2023
The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and the battle to lift the Webb Ellis Cup always produces historic moments. The tournament is also popular among rugby bettors, which is why we have uncovered the best Rugby World Cup betting sites in Australia.
We like to keep things simple when we are betting on the Rugby World Cup. That is why Unibet is our number one Australian Rugby World Cup betting site. Bet365 is also worth checking out, and Draftstars leads the way for Rugby World Cup fantasy betting.
Our experts will also reveal how to find the highest Rugby World Cup odds, the best apps, and explain popular markets, live betting, and much more.
For us, Unibet should be one of your go-to bookies for betting on the Rugby World Cup. If you want to get a wager on the tournament early, then Unibet is your best bet. They have Rugby World Cup futures betting markets months in advance of the start of the next tournament. You will also find lots of different pre-match markets, live betting, live streaming, many free bet offers for registered customers and excellent mobile apps.
Every Rugby World Cup betting market you can imagine
Here is a quick round-up of some of the key factors we considered when putting together our top Rugby World Cup bookmakers. We will expand on all these elements in greater detail further in this article.
Licenses
Any bookie we put forward has to have an Australian gambling license issued by one of the country’s states. This is a sign an online betting site can be trusted and is regulated to a high standard.
Value Odds
We know how important it is to get the best odds when betting on the Rugby World Cup. The betting sites we highlight here are all known for having very competitive tournament odds.
Betting Apps
Another area we always make sure to investigate further is the quality of a betting site app. Betting on the go has never been more in demand and all the bookies we tell you about have impressive apps to suit everyone.
Payment Methods
Any bookie we recommend will have a decent number of payment options for their customers. The more choices for depositing and withdrawing, the higher they will score with us as a top Rugby World Cup bookmaker.
Live Betting
Not every online betting site in Australia will have live betting odds on offer. However, we always look for this factor when reviewing a bookie due to the extra odds and markets it brings to punters.
Rugby World Cup Mobile Betting Apps
Betting via mobile devices is more and more popular than ever before, especially among young punters. Joining a betting site with an excellent app is a must.
All of the bookies on our list have really good betting apps. Bet365 really impressed us with their Rugby World Cup sports betting apps for Android, Apple and other devices. Other really good options are Unibet and BlueBet. The apps can be downloaded from the Play Store, App Store or directly from the betting site. You get everything you would from the desktop site but can place wagers from wherever you are. Scroll below to see what to expect from the top options.
Once you have signed up with on of the best Australian online betting sites you can assess all the latest odds and bet when you spot the right opportunity. One thing you should always do, however, is shop around to make sure you wager at the best price available. It is a quick and simple way to make sure you boost any potential winnings. As you will see in the section below, bookies can vary considerably in the prices they offer, especially for big international tournaments like the Rugby World Cup.
Rugby World Cup Winner Odds Comparison
The table below shows just why you should always try and track down the best odds for your Rugby World Cup bets. For example, say you wanted to back Australia to win the Rugby World Cup. They are priced up at 11.00 with bet365 but less with both Unibet and Palmerbet. We looked at the top 10 in the betting but other sides are still available at bigger prices.
Australia will be hoping the World Cup brings about a return to form after a difficult run leading up to the tournament, including recent losses to South Africa and Argentina, and a heavy defeat against France. They also lost the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, even though a spirited showing in the away fixture will give them hope of clicking into gear under Eddie Jones during the heat of tournament rugby.
They won’t be looking much further than making sure they first and foremost make it out of a tough Pool C that features Wales and potential dark horse Fiji.
Pool Matches
Australia will play in Pool C during the World Cup against Wales, Fiji, Georgia, and Portugal. Those games against Fiji and Wales will decide their qualification fate.
Australia vs Georgia – 10/09/23 – 2am
Australia will need to get off to a good start with tougher matches on the horizon. It will be key they don’t get drawn into a physical battle against a robust Georgian outfit. Racking up the points here could also make a difference in deciding either qualification or who wins the group.
Australia vs Fiji – 18/09/23 – 1.45am
This could very well be Australia’s toughest test of Pool C. Fiji recently put up a good showing in defeat to France but most notably put England to the sword at Twickenham. Australia will be hoping their big game experience can hand them an advantage. Victory would be a big step towards qualification.
Wales vs Australia – 25/09/23 – 5am
Wales aren’t in their strongest place at present but a close clash could still be on the cards, especially if qualification is on the line. Wales might be inconsistent of late but that has also been the case for the Wallabies.
Australia vs Portugal – 02/10/23 – 1.45am
This will be the easiest clash of Pool C for Australia but a high-scoring victory could be required if the qualification places still need to be decided. Eddie Jones’s men will be hopeful the work has already been done and a few squad players can get some minutes before the knockout phase begins.
Rugby World Cup Betting Tips
We think it could be worth backing Fiji to win Pool C. They are better than Wales and can push the Aussies all the way in the battle for qualification. They are the value selection ahead of the group stages.
For the outright win, France look in excellent shape to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. They have all the attributes needed to come out on top. The fact they won’t meet the All Blacks again until the final after being in Pool A together is another plus point.
Fiji’s recent win over England at Twickenham tells you everything you need to know about their capabilities of causing a few upsets this World Cup. They can go deep in this tournament if a lack of big game experience doesn’t hold them back. The 7.00 price with bet365 is far too big.
Betting Tip: France to win the Rugby World Cup at 4.00 with bet365
It is hard to look past France for Rugby World Cup glory in 2023. Les Bleus have the advantage of playing on home soil and will be cheered on by a passionate French support. Get ready for skipper Antoine Dupont to lead his team far in this tournament.
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Betting Strategy
The Rugby World Cup is a unique event and sometimes form can go out the window. For example, Japan’s win against South Africa in 2015 defied logic, as did their win against Ireland in 2019. If you can spot the matches most likely to produce an upset you’ll be very well rewarded.
However, most of the time the cream does rise to the top and if you are going to have a few bets on the next Rugby World Cup your bank account might benefit if you follow our Rugby World Cup betting advice…
Pedigree Counts: As we stated earlier, shocks can and do happen in the Rugby World Cup. However, more often than not the rugby union superpowers come out on top when they play the minnows and it usually a question of how much they will win by. Look at betting on the handicap markets when there is a mismatch if you want to get a wager on at decent odds.
Head-To-Head: History has a habit of repeating itself in sports and the Rugby World Cup is no exception. Some countries capitulate at the sight of the certain jersey. Ireland was considered one of the favourites before the last Rugby World Cup but the game was up for them when they faced New Zealand in the last 8. Ireland has never beaten the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup, so if those two teams play again you’ll know what team to bet on!
Weather Watch: The weather is a big equaliser in rugby union. Teams that play champagne rugby and who like to pass the ball around struggle in wet and windy conditions. If the forecast is for rain and wind it can often pay to concentrate on the Total Points markets. The worse the weather is, the lower the points total will be so a bet on the ‘Under’ when the weather is bad is often the way to go.
Betting Markets
Aussie punters who fancy getting involved in Rugby World Cup betting have lots of different markets to choose from, that are more or less similar as if you’re betting on Super Rugby or some other Rugby Union match.
In the next few sections, we look at some of the key Rugby World Cup betting markets, including Futures, Match and handicap betting. We also briefly discuss some of the most important player markets too so if you want to know more, keep on scrolling!
Rugby World Cup Winner Futures
Almost as soon as the Rugby World Cup finishes, Aussie betting sites will form markets for the next renewal. These ‘Futures’ markets are usually win or each way with bookies normally paying 1/2 odds for 1-2 places.
That means that if you back Australia each way at odds of 17.00 with Unibet you’ll need them to at least reach the final to get paid on the place part of your wager. In order to get the maximum returns, you will need them to win the final. At our top Rugby World Cup betting sites, futures markets are also available for Player Of The Tournament, Top Try Scorer and Top Points scorer.
Match Betting
Most Aussie punters will be very familiar with Rugby World Cup match betting. Once qualification is finished and the draw completed, match betting markets will be formed as soon as the Pools and fixtures are finalised.
Match betting on the Rugby World Cup is the same as soccer match betting. Punters have three options Team A to win (1), Team B to win (2) or the draw (x). Make sure to shop around for the best odds before placing any Rugby World Cup match bets. Overrounds give a good guide to overall value, but prices can vary for each team so keep your options open.
Rugby World Cup Handicap Betting
In the early stages of the Rugby World Cup, in particular, handicap betting can prove a profitable way to wager. In the pools, some of the world’s best teams come up against essentially amateur sides and the match betting odds are prohibitive. If you want to bet on a match that fits that description then backing on the handicap markets can provide a bit of value.
For example, if Australia played Uruguay you would expect the Wallabies to start -35 points. If you back them -34.5 points you need them to win by 35 points or more to get a return. The opposite applies if you back Uruguay +34.5 points. You’ll need them to lose by less than 34 points OR win to land your bet.
Tryscorer Markets
Let’s be honest, the vast majority of Rugby Union fans tune in to see spectacular tries scored by their favourite players. So it’s no wonder that Tryscorer is still one of the most popular Rugby World Cup Betting markets. If you manage to nail a first or last tryscorer, you will be rewarded with very generous odds. Winning anytime tryscorer bets are less lucrative but they give you a much more realistic chance of landing a winning Rugby World Cup bet.
Live Betting – Betfair Leading The Way!
Since the Interactive Gambling Act from 2002, almost all Australian online betting sites cannot legally offer live betting on their desktop or mobile sites. However, the bookies we mentioned above have come up with a workaround that sees them display live odds on their sites and their members just have to make a phone call to start Rugby World Cup in-play betting.
To see the latest Rugby World Cup live betting odds with Unibet or bet365 simply click on the ‘Live’ button at the top of the home page. This will take you to the Unibet or bet365 live section where you can look at a list of all currently live and upcoming live betting events. The odds are displayed and if you see a price you like you just dial the number shown and an operator will place your bet.
However, if live betting online is important to your betting experience then the best place to head is Betfair. You don’t need to phone through your wager with them, simply place your live bet in a few clicks as you would with other bets.
Betfair is the only bookie in Australia where you can place live bets online. Because it is a betting exchange and you are betting against other punts it means the same restrictions don’t apply.
No matter what the sporting event may be, Draftstars will likely have a fantasy league available. This is the newest craze sweeping across Australia and more and more Aussies are now jumping on the fantasy sports betting bandwagon. If you haven’t yet given fantasy Rugby World Cup betting a try, then make sure to pay Draftstars a visit for the next Rugby World Cup.
They will have daily fantasy leagues for all the biggest Rugby World Cup matches. The prizes are usually very generous and entry fees range from $2 all the way up to $50 for some competitions. It is even possible to create a custom Rugby World Cup Fantasy League with Draftstars and just compete against your mates.
There is no better place to go for fantasy betting in Australia than Draftstars. There are a range of entry fees for all budgets and good prize pools. Draft your players ahead of the Rugby World Cup and even set up private leagues.
For now, at least, none of the Australian betting sites we reviewed had Rugby World Cup live streaming available. Unfortunately, you’ll only be able to watch the Rugby World Cup live on terrestrial or satellite television. Unibet and bet365 offer live streaming for a wide selection of sports though. Visit their websites or check out our reviews to learn more about live sports streaming with Australian betting sites.
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Bet365 Live Streaming
Bet365 streams thousands of events every year, bringing you top sporting action including games from Europe’s top domestic Soccer leagues and Grand Slam Tennis tournaments, as well as Horse Racing from selected Australian, UK and Irish tracks.
Only available to eligible customers. To watch live sport, UK and Irish racing covered by Racing TV or US racing covered by At The Races, all you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. To watch any other racing, you must place a qualifying bet of at least $1.00 Win or $0.50 Each Way on your selection(s). This applies to singles and Multi bets. Minimum stakes apply to Tote and other pool betting.
Any fixture/event on bet365 which has the Play or Video icon next to it is scheduled to be shown via Live Streaming.
Live Streaming is only available to eligible customers, and availability may be determined by the status of your account. If you are unable to watch live sport with bet365 and you are unsure of why this is, please contact customer support.
Under Australian law, we are required to inform you that Live Streaming on bet365 is exempt from Parts 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018.
History And Records
If you want to increase your prospects of profiting from Rugby World Cup betting, clues about future results can often be found by looking back at previous tournaments. A quick glance at the winners’ table shows that the big guns from the Southern Hemisphere have won 8 out of 9. England remains the only Northern Hemisphere side to have won it. They lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003. Australia has won it twice, in 1991 and 1999.
Two rugby union legends share the record for scoring the most Rugby World Cup tries, Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu with 15 apiece. Aussie Drew Mitchell is next best with 14. Michael Lynagh is the record Aussie points scorer in the Rugby World Cup with 195, 82 points less than the record holder Jonny Wilkinson who scored 277. New Zealand is the most successful Rugby World Cup nation with a total of 3 wins (1987, 2011, 2015).
Tournament Format
The first Rugby World Cup in 1987 was by invitation only. Qualification was introduced in 1991 when 8 of the 16 slots were awarded to teams that prevailed in a 24 team qualifying tournament. The format for the next tournament in 2023 will see 12 teams qualify automatically; all the quarter-finalists and also the 3rd placed finishers in the 4 groups at the previous tournament.
At the last Rugby World Cup, a total of 20 teams competed and they were split into 4 groups of 5. Each team plays the others once in the Pool Stage and the top 2 from each Pool advance to the last 8. The tournament then becomes a knockout event, with the last two teams standing playing in the Rugby World Cup final.
Conclusion
There are plenty of choices for Rugby World Cup betting in Australia. The key is to pick the best option so that you have consistently strong odds, an excellent app, and a range of markets to choose from.
With all those and more in mind, we have selected our list of the best Rugby World Cup betting sites. These also have excellent payment options and are known for being safe and secure for online punters.
If you’re looking for the best Rugby World Cup betting sites, don’t miss to check out our list of the best. We have rated and reviewed the top options to narrow your search.
What is the best Rugby World Cup betting site in Australia?
Rugby World Cup is popular among Aussie punters, so every bookmaker around here is offering the full range of odds and betting markets on this event. If you’re not sure where to bet, check out our list of the best Rugby World Cup betting sites. All of them are licensed and regulated in Australia. We think Unibet and bet365 are two top options.
What Australian bookmaker has the best Rugby World Cup betting odds?
As we always say, the only way to guarantee you are getting the best Rugby World Cup betting odds is to physically check as many sites as possible before placing your wager. Comparing odds and backing at the top price is a quick way to boost potential winnings.
Can you bet in-play on the Rugby World Cup?
Yes, you can bet on live odds with all of our recommended bookies. However, Australian betting sites are prohibited from offering live betting via their desktop or mobile sites. Instead you will need to call up to confirm your wager. The only option for live betting online without making a call is with Betfair.
How does Rugby World Cup handicap betting work?
Handicap betting on the Rugby World Cup works the same way as on any other sport. A bookie will give a points advantage to the underdog team (or minus points to the favourite) before the game starts to even the odds. So, if you bet -15.5 handicap on New Zealand against Australia, they’ll have to win with at least 16 points difference for you to get paid. To learn more about handicap betting markets, check out the article above.
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