Football is the most popular sport in Uganda and world over. Because of that, it is only logical that the sport also dominates the betting websites with tons of offers and markets. But that said, there are more exciting and less risky sports out there that can be valuable when it comes to betting. One of those is rugby, a sport that has grown exponentially over the last decade thanks to Uganda’s investment in the sport and the success that has come with the National Rugby Sevens team – Rugby Cranes Sevens.
Betting in rugby, to be honest, can feel overwhelming at first from odds and handicaps to accumulators and value bets, there’s a lot to take in. However, the trick to start betting or sharpen your skills in rugby is by understanding the terms used. This Topbets detailed guide breaks down rugby betting explained in simple terms to help you whether you’re betting on local competitions or global events like the Rugby World Cup.
So, let’s start here:
What are rugby betting terms?
In the simplest terms, these are words and phrases that bookmakers and punters use to describe different types of betting markets and strategies. Getting to understand them will help you to:
• Read and interpret odds correctly.
• Choose the right betting markets
• Avoid common beginner mistakes
• Improve your overall betting strategy
So, let’s define them one by one for simplicity.
1. Rugby betting odds – Odds is one of the most important terms in betting. Odds represent the probability of an outcome happening and the amount of money you can win. The two types of rugby betting odds are fractional and decimal odds. Take for example decimal odds for Pirates to beat Heathens in a Uganda Rugby Premiership match is 2.00, then if you put UGX 10,000 stake, you will return UGX 20,000. Now, if the odds for Toyota Buffaloes to beat Heathens are 5/1, then a stake of UGX 10,000 will return a profit of UGX 50,000. Decimal is more common in Uganda while fraction is more a UK style.
2. Rugby handicap betting (spread betting) – Rugby handicap betting levels the playing field between two teams that are not matched in strength. Say you’re betting on Jinja Hippos -14.5 against Heathens, then for your bet to win, Hippos must register a victory of more than 15 points. And if Heathens (+14.5) is your chosen bet, then they must not lose by 14 points or less for the bet to win. This answers the frequently asked question: “what does -14.5 mean in rugby betting?”
3. Totals betting (Over/Under) – this is a betting market that is determined by the total number of points that are scored in a match and not necessarily who wins or loses. Take the line 42.5 for example, if the total score in the match is 43 or more, that is over and anything below that is under. It’s a popular market in high-scoring matches like the Sevens short code.
4. Match Result (1X2) – this is a simple betting market where 1 means a Home team win, X is a Draw and 2 is an away team win. However, take note that draws are very rare in rugby because of the points-awarding format but appear in tightly, low-scoring matches.
5. Try – a try is a Key Scoring Term that means the main way teams score in rugby that’s worth five (5) points. A try is scored when a player touches the opponent’s in-goal area with the ball. Some of the betting markets here include first try scorer and anytime try scorer.
6. Conversion – a team gets a chance to kick for extra two points after scoring a try usually taken by fly-halves who are the main playmakers.
7. Penalty kick – a penalty is a sanction awarded after a foul against an opposing team for a serious offense of the rules like dangerous play, not releasing the ball in a tackle, failing to roll away, entering the maul from the side, offside and dissent. The team has four options: kicking for goal, kicking for touch, taking a scrum or play on with a quick tap. A penalty is worth three points if a team decides to kick for goal.
8. Penalty vs free kick – a free kick a set-piece awarded for minor technical infringements like early scrum engagement, lineout errors or a mark. A team can restart play with a kick or a scrum but is not allowed to score points directly from it. A penalty is significantly more severe than a free-kick.
9. Drop goal – this is a rare but exciting scoring method where a player kicks the ball through the posts while play is still on. A drop goal is worth three points and can be taken by any player with space.
10. Accumulator – an accumulator or a multi bet combines more than one selections into one single bet but for it to win, all selections must win. It is a higher risk, higher reward gambling and very popular for those going for big payouts.
11. Cash out – Cash Out is a system that allows you to settle your bet early and lock in your profit as you minimize losses.
12. Winning margin – is a bet on both a team to win as you predict the exact margin of victory. Instead of just picking a winner, you select a margin bracket like 1–10 points or by 11–20 points. It is a bit riskier but offers higher odds.
13. Half-Time / Full-Time – this is a bet where you predict results at two stages which are halftime and at fulltime.
14. Live Betting (In-Play Betting) – this allows a punter to place bets when the match is going on. In live betting, you can react to momentum swings, injuries, red cards and weather changes.
15. Bookmaker – this is a betting company that sets odds, offers and accepts bets and pays winning punters.
16. Rugby fixtures – these are simply upcoming matches that you can bet on. Tracking fixtures helps identify good betting opportunities.
17. Bankroll – a bankroll is the money you’ve set aside for betting activities. Always remember to set limits, avoid chasing losses and bet responsibly.
18. Value bet – A value bet is when odds are higher than the true probability. You may think Hippos has a 60% chance to beat Heathens but the odds suggest only 40%. That’s a valuable opportunity.
19. Favorite vs Underdog – a favorite team is one that is more likely to win with low odds while underdog has high odds because it is less likely to win. In rugby, handicap betting makes these matchups more interesting and often profitable. Rugby is a sport with so many mismatches.
20. Rugby Union vs Rugby League – There are basically two main formats where the World Rugby oversees Rugby Union while Rugby League has slightly different rules and faster gameplay. Note that most global betting focuses on Rugby Union.
See also: Best Betting Sites in Uganda