Rugby might not be the most popular sports betting option throughout the United Kingdom; however, there are plenty of fascinating betting markets that can be used, even if you are not a fan of the sport. One of the most interesting markets is the rugby handicap betting market, and this allows bettors to give teams a theoretical advantage or disadvantage over their opponents, making it fantastic for underdogs and heavy favourites.
Here, we will examine how Rugby handicap betting works, what it is, different examples of Rugby handicap betting, and how it compares to other forms of handicap markets in sports betting.
What Is Handicap Betting in Rugby?
The Rugby Handicap betting system is similar to other forms of handicap betting, as it allows for one team to start with a theoretical point difference. This bet makes it so that a stronger team must win by a greater number of points, or the underdog will start with more points before the match begins. This means that if the underdog loses the fixture, there is still the chance that they win according to your betting selection. The handicap betting system allows bettors to even the odds, even if the teams are outmatched, making these handicap bets perfect for rugby games that include a heavy favourite and an underdog. The handicap betting system is not the only available betting market for rugby, with many other betting techniques explained on our matched betting blog.
For those rugby games when a short-priced favourite comes up against a long-shot underdog, the handicap betting system is perfect as you can give a team a headstart, or put a team on the back foot before the game has even begun. Of course, the odds are adjusted to reflect the advantage. Whilst rugby league handicap betting is popular, we also have a rugby betting guide available for those not interested in using handicaps throughout their betting. Here are just some examples of some bets that you might see at bookmakers when it comes to rugby betting:
Now that we have reviewed the Rugby handicap betting system, we will examine how it works and provide some specific examples to illustrate rugby handicap betting in real-life scenarios.
How Do Rugby Handicap Bets Work?
There are plenty of different ways to place rugby handicap bets, yet the same principles apply to each bet, which is the fact that points are added or subtracted from teams before the game begins.
There are a couple of ways of thinking about how handicap betting works; these two ways can help you visualise exactly how the handicaps are applied:
- Points are adjusted before the game begins – For the rugby example, let’s say the Wigan Warriors are given a handicap of +5. This means the Wigan Warriors would start the game 5 points ahead of the opponent, meaning if the Wigan Warriors win, or lose by less than 5 points, the bet will still be successful.
- Points are adjusted after the game finishes – Using the same example, let’s say the Wigan Warriors draw with their opponent 27-27, but you have placed a bet with a handicap of +5 on the Wigan Warriors. This means your bet will still be successful, as with the handicap, the Wigan Warriors will have won 32-27, as the +5 will be applied to the scoreline.
Whilst it might not seem too complicated to place 2-way handicap bets, there are also 3-way handicap bets. Here, we will look at how these different bets work in rugby handicap betting:
Rugby Handicap Betting Examples
The best way to learn about these specific handicaps is to see real-life examples, so we are going to run through some different examples, how the scores would affect these different examples, and how 2-way handicap betting is different from 3-way handicap betting in the Rugby handicap betting market.
2-way Rugby Handicap Betting
Let’s have a look at an example between Northampton and Saracens, with the handicap at Bet365 offering to give a handicap of +5.5 to Northampton and -5.5 to Saracens.
As both handicaps are effectively the same thing, we can see that the odds are the exact same too.
So, this would mean that the game would begin with Northampton having a lead of 5 points, the reason why we can see a decimal place of 0.5 added to the handicap is to eliminate the potential outcome of a draw, as if Saracens win by 5 goals, Northampton will still win as they have the extra 0.5 points. This is similar to something we see in Asian handicap betting, yet there are no quarter decimals in use throughout traditional rugby league handicap betting. To learn more about Asian handicap betting, check out our Asian handicap betting guide, which is available on site.
Here is a table showing exactly how the different match outcomes would affect the rugby handicap betting system in this example.
If you placed a bet on Northampton with a handicap of +5.5, here are the different outcomes available from different results:
3-way Rugby Handicap Betting
Here, we will look through the same example at Bet365; however, this time, we are going to look at the 3-way handicap betting rugby market and how it is different from the 2-way betting market.
We can now see that there are three options, with the extra option being a tie. Now, this is different to the 2-way betting option, as the handicaps are whole numbers, meaning if it is a tie and you have bet on one of the teams to win, then your bet will not be successful.
It is important to note that the handicap tie market is different to the result tie market, as the handicap tie market in this circumstance effectively means that Northampton would have to lose the game by 5 points, as the 5 points will then be taken off Saracens, therefore resulting in a draw.
We will look through what the different outcomes would be if you were to place the different bets here, and what the results would have to be for the bet to be successful or unsuccessful.
How To Use The Rugby Handicap
You might be wondering when the Rugby league handicap betting system can be used, as most bettors will just tend to place match result bets when picking a team to win. The best time to take advantage of the handicap system in rugby is when there is an underdog up against a stronger team, as you can even the odds by using the handicap system. Whilst the Rugby handicap is not really used in matched betting, it is another betting option that bettors can take advantage of when a heavy favourite takes on an outsider.
For those who are interested in value betting, you will understand the use of different betting markets and using them to your advantage to make the most out of sporting events. Here, we will look through some top tips which you can use when placing handicap bets throughout Rugby.
- Do Not Be Afraid To Back The Favourite – By backing the heavy favourite, this typically means you will need the favourite to record a big win against the underdog, which seems to happen more often than a worse team causing an upset. By using the handicap system, you can still find decent odds for the favourite to win.
- Research Both Teams – While one team might be the favourite, they might not be exceptional point scorers, and they might be a better defensive outfit than an attacking side. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, bettors can better determine which handicap betting rugby selections are worth placing bets on.
- Seek Value in Lesser-Known Competitions – With most bettors looking to place bets on international tournaments and top-tier leagues, there is value to be found across lower leagues. As precise information throughout the lower leagues is harder to obtain, this could potentially benefit bettors.
- Be Aware of Rotation – If a favourite side is coming into the game with fatigue, or potentially tougher opponents in their schedule, they may drop some of their best players to rest, which can therefore affect their chance of winning, especially by a big margin.
Rugby Handicap Vs Other Handicaps
The handicap betting system is something that is common throughout almost every sport, whether that be team sports such as football and cricket, or individual sports such as tennis and golf. Whilst the rugby handicap betting system mainly focuses on the match result of teams, some sports like golf will give individual players a head start compared to the rest of the field.
If you are interested in learning more about other handicap betting, then check out our tennis handicap betting guide and our cricket handicap betting guide.
When looking at the Rugby handicap compared to other handicaps, we can see some clear positives and negatives that users should take into account before placing any bets:
✅Virtual handicap can lead to better odds compared to traditional match result betting
✅Due to rugby being a team sport, there are fewer upsets compared to individual sports like golf or tennis
✅Handicap betting allows you to still find value in uneven rugby matches
❌Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of teams is crucial, meaning that using the handicap betting system is recommended for those who understand the sport well
❌More complicated compared to other betting techniques
Rugby Handicap FAQS
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Rugby handicap betting!
Is There A Difference In Rugby League and Rugby Union Handicap Betting?
Whilst there are huge differences between the two when it comes to the rules of the game, the handicap betting system can be used in both the Rugby League and the Rugby Union.
How Do I Find Rugby Handicap Bets?
When searching for different handicap bets throughout either Rugby League or Rugby Union, you will simply have to find the section on your selected bookmaker for rugby, and then find the handicap betting market. We will use the example of Bet365 to showcase how to find these betting markets:
On the left-hand side of the screen, we can see all the available sports; simply click on Rugby League or Rugby Union. Then, you can use the navigation bar to find either 2-way handicaps or 3-way handicaps.
On the left-hand side of the screen, we can see all the available sports; simply click on Rugby League or Rugby Union. Then, you can use the navigation bar to find either 2-way handicaps or 3-way handicaps.
What Is Alternative Handicap Betting In Rugby?
The alternative handicap betting option allows users to choose a specific handicap amount, choosing exactly how many points a team starts ahead or behind. The odds are adjusted to take into account the handicaps.
