Rugby Union Markets: What Can You Bet On?

There are a multitude of options available when it comes to betting on rugby union matches with Bally Bet, and knowing exactly what each market means and how they settle can help you choose which approach suits you best for each fixture.

Here's a breakdown of the most popular rugby union betting markets and what’s required for each one to win.

The odds used in this article are for illustrative purposes only.

Match result

The match result market is the most straightforward option. You put money on one of three outcomes: home win, draw or away win.

Odds reflect team strength, home advantage, recent form and head-to-head history. A top-ranked team playing at home against weaker opposition will have short odds for the win. The draw typically carries longer odds because rugby matches don't often end level – though they do happen.

Match result bets settle based on the score at full-time (80 minutes). Extra time and penalty shootouts don't count unless the market specifically states otherwise. If England beat France 24-20, home win bets pay out. If the match ends 17-17, draw bets win.

This market works when you have a clear view on which team wins but don't want to worry about margins or handicaps. It's clean, direct and requires one outcome: the team you backed must win, or the match must end level if you backed the draw.

Handicap betting

Handicap betting applies a virtual point advantage to one team and a deficit to the other. This can create more competitive odds when one team is heavily favoured.

The handicap uses half-points (.5) to eliminate draws. One team starts with a deficit (the favourite), while the other receives an advantage (the underdog).

Example: Ireland vs. Italy with Ireland -17.5 handicap. If Ireland win the game 35-10, you apply the -17.5 handicap to Ireland's score:

• Adjusted score: 17.5-10 to Ireland

• Ireland -17.5 bets succeed

If Ireland win 24-10:

• Adjusted score: 6.5-10 to Italy

• Italy +17.5 bets succeed

The .5 makes it impossible for the adjusted score to end level. Your bet either wins or loses.

When to use handicaps

Handicaps carry different odds than straight match winner markets. If Ireland are 7/10 at -17.5, they must win by 18+ points for that bet to succeed. If Italy are 11/10 at +17.5, they can lose by 17 or fewer and the bet wins.

The odds attached to these markets reflect the perceived difficulty of the event occurring. Backing Ireland to cover a large point handicap is riskier than backing them just to win, hence the 7/10 odds (compared to match odds of 1/12). Backing Italy with the cushion offers value at 11/10 if you believe they’ll keep things close.

Handicaps also work when backing underdogs to keep matches competitive. If you don't think Italy will win but believe they'll stay within 14 points, backing Italy +14.5 could make sense.

The key is assessing the margin of victory rather than just the result. Some teams win but don't cover large handicaps. Others lose but keep it close enough to cover positive handicaps.

Winning margin

Winning margin markets predict the set range of points in a victory. Instead of backing a team to win by a specific handicap, you're selecting how many points separate the teams at fulltime.

Typical winning margin options include:

• Home team by 1-10 points

• Home team by 11-20 points

• Home team by 22-30 points

• Away team by 1-10 points

• Away team by 11-20 points

• Away team by 22-30 points

• Draw

Each set carries different odds based on likelihood. Narrow margins (1-12 points) happen frequently in competitive matches and so offer shorter odds. Greater margins (25+ points) are rare and pay longer odds.

As an example, let’s say England are favourites against Wales.

If you back England to win by 1-12 points and they win 21-14 (7-point margin), your bet wins. If they win 28-10 (18-point margin), the bet loses because the margin falls outside your selected range.

Winning margin bets require arguably more precision than handicaps but offer better odds when you're confident about match dynamics. If you believe a fixture will be tight regardless of who wins, backing the 1-12 point margin for either team seems like the wisest option.

How to assess winning margins

Keep these factors in mind when selecting winning margins:

Team styles

Defensive teams grind out narrow wins, while high-scoring teams produce larger margins.

Playing conditions

Poor weather reduces scoring and creates tighter margins. Good conditions allow teams to extend leads.

Player motivation and morale

Teams fighting for the title push for bonus points and big wins, while teams trying to avoid finishing last play with urgency to secure victories.

Recent form

Check how teams have won recently. Some consistently win by 20+ points. Others scrape narrow victories regardless of the quality of their opposition.

Winning margin markets suit matchups where you're confident about the direction (which team wins) but want enhanced odds by wagering on a specific point gap.

Choosing the right market

Different markets serve different purposes.

Match result works when you're confident about the winner but uncertain about margin, handicaps create better odds when you're backing clear favourites or competitive underdogs and winning margin markets reward precision when you've correctly assessed how the match will unfold.

You don't need to default to one market type. Assess each fixture individually and choose the market that best reflects your view. Sometimes a straight win bet makes sense. Other times, a handicap or winning margin can offer better value.

Understanding how each market settles prevents confusion. Match results only care about who wins. Handicaps adjust scores and settle based on that adjusted result. Winning margins need a grouped range of points.

A quick recap

Rugby union betting markets extend beyond backing which team wins. Match result markets offer simplicity. Handicaps create value through virtual points adjustment and winning margins reward precision about score gaps.

Understanding these markets and when to use them separates informed decisions from guesswork. As well as your appetite for risk, the right market choice depends on the fixture, the teams involved and your assessment of how a match might unfold.

If you’d like even more helpful sports betting explainers – Six Nations or otherwise – check out the Bally Bet Sports & Casino blog. Our guides illuminate different types of bets, markets and odds, and our previews can help you decide whether an upcoming event is worth your time.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.