Rugby Union, a strange game for many and an obsession for others. Its brutal, traditional and to be honest can look like it lacks coherent rules. The truth is it takes plenty of courage and determination to play the game but betting on the game; well you hardly need to break a sweat!

If you find yourself aimlessly searching your mobile sportsbook looking for some action, then you could do a lot worse than throwing some cash down on the great game of rugby! 

Is it possible to strategically bet on this strange game Rugby? Does a bear poop in the woods?

Do you need to be a rugby tragic to successfully win cash? Not at all!

In the next 5 minutes you will learn how to wager on one of Rugby’s most popular betting markets. The POINT SPREAD! 

Before you start betting check out our sign up bonuses with PointsBet and UniBet. Kick off your rugby betting experience with a few free swings!

What is the Rugby Point Spread?

Just like mainstream US sports the Rugby Point Spread market essentially handicaps teams by either giving the underdog points or taking them away from the favorite. This evens the playing field and means that betting either side will give you a shot at the same odds (usually -110). 

For example, if Gloucester were playing Bath in the English Premiership Rugby competition sportsbooks may deem Gloucester to be a 5.5 point better team. Therefore according to the point spread they would be – 5.5 points and favorites. This means they would have to win the game by 6 or more points for wager to win. Clearly as favorites they have more work to do. 

Alternatively, as the underdog, Bath would be given +5.5 points in the point spread market meaning they could either win the game outright or lose by 5 or less points for the bet to cash. 

That may seem a little confusing but believe me you will catch on fast.

Here are a few things more things you need to know.

The Odds

At any US sportsbook you will be dealing with American Odds. The beauty of the Rugby point spread market is that by adjusting the handicap given to each team, a sportsbook is able to offer essentially the same odds for both teams (most of the time). 

Typically these odds will be in the vicinity of -110 meaning a bettor would need to place a bet of $110 to win a profit of $100, giving them a total return of $210. 

For more on what these numbers actually mean check out our article on reading sports odds. 

The fluctuation in the betting market comes from the change in the handicap. In the above example as betting money flows in perhaps the sportsbook may adjust the handicap to meet the market. For instance they may change the point spread line from 5.5 to 6 if money rolled in on Gloucester at the -5.5. 

Sometimes sportsbooks may not want to adjust the points handicap as they think it will skew betting to much the other way so instead they will slightly alter the odds attached to the handicap. For example they may change Gloucester’s odds from -110 to -115 to reduce their exposure to the market. Watch out for this!

Ok so you have an idea of how the Rugby handicap works, but that really means nothing if you don’t know how points are scored in this strangely awesome game.   

The Scoring

As was outlined in our Rugby Moneyline Article, the Rugby point scoring system is quite simple. In fact it actually has some similarities to scoring in American Football.

In order to successfully bet the Rugby Point Spread you will need to understand basic rugby scoring. After all, you need to know if your team is going to cover the spread!

Here is a breakdown of how points are scored:

Mode of Scoring	Points Value	What actually is it?
Try	5	A player places the ball with downward pressure in the in goal area (endzone).
Try Conversion	2	After a try the kicker successfully kicks the ball between the posts (above the crossbar) from a position in line with where the try was scored. Therefore a converted try is worth 7 points total.
Penalty Goal	3	After a penalty is awarded to a team they have the option of taking a shot for goal from the exact position of the foul.  If the kick passes between the posts and above the crossbar it is successful.
Field Goal	3	In general play a player successfully drop kicks the ball from an onside position and it passes between the posts and above the crossbar.

As can be seen in the table, scores jump in multiples of 3, 5 and 7. A two score lead is any lead above 7 points. A handicap of more than 7 points is significant as it essentially requires two scores to be covered.

A close game would be any margin of 7 or less points. 

It is important to note that penalty goals are a long range scoring method. It is possible for kickers to land penalty goal from halfway or even at times just inside their own half. With them being worth 3 points it does happen that teams win games even though they scored less tries.

What Are the Rugby Point Spread Key Numbers? 

The following table gives a quick breakdown of some key numbers you should look out for when betting the rugby point spread. 

It is important that you stay on the right side of the key number. For example if you are betting on an underdog then taking the key number with the hook (the half point) added is critical. 

Key Number	What Makes the Number Key?
3	A penalty or field goal margin. Penalty goals are far more common. Long range scoring and a great way to break the deadlock.
5	An unconverted try. For example a late try scored in the corner, which is tough for the kicker, to convert yields a five point margin. Just remember kickers often run at 80% success rate so don’t bank on them missing.
7	A converted try. The largest single score margin available in Rugby. Add a half point to this and it becomes a useful handicap for an underdog.
10	A converted try plus a penalty goal. A team gets the lead then kicks a penalty late for insurance.
12	Two try lead with one try unconverted. It happens more than you would think so this number is key.
14	Two converted tries. Goes without saying this is key.
17	Two converted tries and a penalty goal. A dominant display capped off with some insurance points.
21 or further multiples of 7	By this stage the game is dead as a contest. The number begins to become less key but it’s always good to know how many scores you need to cover the spread.

Is Overtime Played in Rugby and Does it Count When Betting the Point Spread?

As we covered extensively in our comprehensive Rugby Betting Article, sometimes overtime is played and sometimes it isn’t! You need to be aware of when it will be played because it directly affects point spread betting. 

In rugby, overtime is called ‘extra time’. It is typically only ever played in rugby during the knockout stages of tournament play or during playoffs (finals). 

Regular season games and regular international games (called test matches) DO NOT include overtime. At that point you better hope you were on the underdog!

If extra time or overtime is played then it will be included in the point spread betting and the handicap will be applied after the final score is decided.  

So Should You Bet the Favorite or the Underdog?

Well this really is up to you. But here are a few things you need to know when deciding on which way you will bet. .

The thing with Rugby is that upsets can and do happen. It’s not uncommon for an underdog play out of their skin. It’s also not uncommon for the the favorite to totally run over the underdog. Knowing which way a game will go is the art of betting. 

The principal we stand by stand by is the physicality of Rugby. You don’t win rugby games you earn them. Here is a quote from our Rugby Moneyline article which sums it up perfectly: 

“Rugby is a physical game and defense is a critical factor in deciding the winner. A team that is less talented on paper but shows more resolve in defense will often win the game. The brutal nature of the tackling means that a team that is just a few percent off their game will get rolled.” 

When betting a rugby point spread underdog you are really betting on them aiming up in defense. If they make the game a true arm wrestle then your ‘plus points’ is probably going to be good.

It’s hard to score in rugby without field position. For that reason it’s worth checking to see how you team ranks in recent matches as far as territorial advantage is concerned. Those stats are easy to find. If they struggle to gain and maintain possession then they are always susceptible to being blown out. 

In the game of rugby possession can change in an instant. For that reason points can flow quickly. Keep that in mind when betting handicaps. 

Another sneaky point spread betting strategy is to look for a team that has a dependable goal kicker. A kicker can be a weapon as they score from long range and even without territorial dominance a team can still hit the scoreboard. Penalties, much like field goals in the NFL don’t really win you matches but they keep you in touch. An underdog, with a good kicker, getting some decent points from the sportsbook, is always worth a look. 

If you want a full list of rock solid Rugby wagering strategies you need to check out our comprehensive article. It will pay dividends! 

One More Thing You Need to Know About Rugby Points Spread Betting!

There is a big difference between international rugby and domestic rugby. International rugby is all about pride and winning ugly is just as good as winning in style. Much like international soccer, international rugby can be a dour and grind it out type affair. Not always but often.

Domestic rugby is different. Most domestic rugby competitions reward teams for playing attacking running rugby. Teams that score four tries in a game are awarded bonus points in the overall standings. Teams that win by more than 7 points are awarded another bonus point. 

Point spreads in international rugby are often less generous, unless you have a powerhouse playing a minnow, but international rugby defense has less holes in it. Defensive line breaks are fewer and so scoring of tries is many times much less regular. 

A 10 point handicap in international rugby has more weight than it would in a domestic competition. 

Before you start betting check out our sign up bonuses with PointsBet and UniBet. Kick off your rugby betting experience with a few free swings!

The Game Starts Now!

Rugby is an awesome game to watch and wager on. For those of you in the United States, it is shown regularly across many of the sports networks and is often on live early on Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

Betting the point spread adds some fun to the game. When you are competing against the spread its never over till it’s over. Try it out. We think you will love it! 

Good luck and as always gamble responsibly!