Betting Guide for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
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2023 has been a great year for rugby, and it is not done yet! After an enthralling 6 Nations at the start of the year and some extremely entertaining matches in the Summer Internationals, rugby fans across the world will be turning their attention to France as the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off on the 8th of September with France v New Zealand. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about betting on the Rugby World Cup.
Top Rugby World Cup Betting Sites
18+ | New customers only. | Min deposit €10. Min turnover €15 | Skrill & Neteller not eligible. | T&C apply. | www.gambleaware.org
18+ | Full T&C apply. | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org
18+ | New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings from the free bet. Max conversion: £200. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits.| Terms & Conditions apply. | www.begambleaware.org
🏆 Rugby World Cup Betting Odds – Who Are the Early Favourites?
The great thing about sports is that everyone has their own opinions as to who will go on and lift the trophy. The French are big favourites heading into the 2023 World Cup, but the likes of New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa will have something to say about that. In the following table, you can find the outright winner odds that five of the top bookmakers are currently offering for some of the favourites.
| Team | .png) | .gif) | .png) | .png) | .png) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.75 | 3.35 |
| New Zealand | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.75 | 3.20 |
| South Africa | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.50 | 3.50 |
| Ireland | 6.00 | 6.00 | 3.75 | 5.50 | 4.50 |
| Australia | 15.00 | 15.00 | 12.00 | 11.00 | 10.10 |
| England | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 11.60 |
N.B. If you want to find the odds for any of the other participating teams, you can do so further down the page in the "Outright Odds for the 2023 Rugby World Cup" section.
1️⃣ France
Fabien Galthié has one of the best squads in Rugby Union at his disposal, and there are going to be some world class players left out of the 33-man squad. In Antoine Dupont, France have the best scrum-half in the world, while Gregory Alldritt is a number eight that would walk into any team.
However, while they undoubtedly have the talent to go on and become only the second northern hemisphere team to win the Rugby World Cup, after England in 2003, they are playing at home and are expected to win, so it will be interesting to see how they go about dealing with that sort of expectation. If they do go on to win, Shaun Edwards will have played a huge role as he is one of the best defence coaches out there.
They play their hardest game in the group in the opening match of the tournament, and if they manage to overcome New Zealand, then they will be full of confidence for the rest of the competition. They deserve their tag as one of the favourites, but they are definitely not unstoppable.
2️⃣ New Zealand
The All Blacks, apart from maybe the Brazilian national football team, is the most iconic sporting team in the sporting world. When big competitions such as the World Cup roll around, New Zealand are always going to be one of the favourites.
They might not be sitting at the top of the rankings anymore, but their aura and skill makes them a team that nobody really wants to come up against.
They lost their last match to South Africa by 28 points, which was their biggest ever loss in their history, but they will put this to the back of their minds and still believe that they have what it takes to win the RWC for the fourth time. With the likes of Beauden Barrett, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Rieko Ioane, and Aaron Smith, their opponents will have to be at the top of their game.
If they do go on to win, then they will have to do it the hard way because, if as expected, they make it out of Pool A, they will more than likely have to take on Ireland or South Africa. That is definitely one match that you do not want to be missing out on.
3️⃣ Ireland
When Andy Farrell took over as the head coach of Ireland, not even the most optimistic of Irish fans would have expected the transformation that he has put in place - it really is nothing short of phenomenal. He has moulded a team that is uncompromising, tough, and full of heart, three characteristics that helped them beat the All Blacks on their home soil in the summer of 2022 and then go on to claim the Grand Slam in the 2023 Six Nations.
The core players of this Irish team, such as Johnny Sexton, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, and Peter O'Mahony are getting on a bit, but they are part of Ireland's golden generation and they will be eager to show the world what they are capable of at what will probably be their final World Cup. Keep a close eye on Josh van der Flier, as he is currently one of the most exciting players in world rugby.
Ireland will be confident of going on to top their group, but the prize that they get for this is a quarter-final match against probably either Ireland or New Zealand. However, if they play how they have been playing recently, there is no reason why they will not go into such a match brimming with confidence.
4️⃣South Africa
The Springboks were one of the slight outsiders not too long ago, but the fact that they dismantled New Zealand in their last match has boosted them to one of the favourites. They also have a very good history at the RWC, winning it three times, including in 2019. In fact, many of the players who won in 2019 are still in the squad, which will definitely stand them in good stead for their title push.
They have a very balanced squad, with power and pace in abundance, while their captain, Siya Kolisi, leads his men with his actions and his words. Eben Etzebteh is ageing like some fine wine, and he is definitely one of the world's best locks. When they play at the top of their game, there is nobody who can take them down, especially when it comes to competing at the breakdown. Once one of their big guys gets over the ball, it is like trying to pry a limpet off a rock.
They are in Ireland's group, so whether they finish first or second, they will have to take on New Zealand or France in the last eight. I really cannot wait for the knockout stages to start!
🌍 The Pools Odds for the Rugby World Cup
While betting on the outright winner of a competition can be entertaining, it is not the only market that rugby bettors can put their hard-earned money on. Another popular market is the winner of the pools, so in this section, I am going to provide you with the odds that the previous five mentioned bookmakers are offering for such a market.
Pool A Winner Odds
| Team | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1.86 | 1.82 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.84 |
| New Zealand | 1.95 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.70 |
| Italy | 67.00 | 41.00 | 67.00 | 67.00 | 62.00 |
| Namibia | 901.00 | 276.00 | 1001.00 | 1001.00 | 500.00 |
| Uruguay | 751.00 | 251.00 | 1001.00 | 1001.00 | 500.00 |
Two of the favourites for the title are in Pool A, and one of them will definitely go on to top the group - with no disrespect to Italy, Uruguay, or Namibia. New Zealand have a very good record against the French, with the Kiwis beating them 48 times compared to France's 13 victories. However, despite this poor record against the All Blacks, I believe that the French will top the group thanks to their quality of players and Shaun Edwards. The last time that these two teams met, France won 40-25, so they will take heart from that.
Italy, Uruguay, and Namibia will try their best, but there is no way that they are upsetting the apple cart here.
My Pool A winner prediction: France @ 1.91
Pool B Winner Odds
| Team | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 2.38 | 2.30 | 2.25 | 2.10 | 1.95 |
| South Africa | 1.91 | 1.88 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.85 |
| Scotland | 8.00 | 7.00 | 9.00 | 8.50 | 8.55 |
| Tonga | 151.00 | 76.00 | 401.00 | 101.00 | 105.00 |
| Romania | 901.00 | 276.00 | 901.00 | 1001.00 | 500.00 |
South Africa are the reigning champions, while Ireland are currently ranked as the number 1 team in the world. To add to this, Scotland seem to be improving all of the time, so this is sure to be a humdinger of a group. Having said that, I think that the top spot will be the winner of the match between Ireland and South Africa, with Scotland giving both teams a good match, but ultimately finishing up short. I don't mean to sound harsh, but Romania and Tonga are just there to make up the numbers.
The Springboks have a good record against the Men in Green with 18 wins to their eight. However, once more, I am not going to take history's side and I am going to back Ireland to top the group as Farrell has taken them to new heights. Additionally, Ireland have beat the Springboks in their last two meetings.
My Pool B winner prediction: Ireland @ 2.38
Pool C Winner Odds
| Team | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.40 | 1.37 |
| Wales | 3.25 | 3.15 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.40 |
| Fiji | 9.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 7.70 |
| Georgia | 67.00 | 36.00 | 251.00 | 67.00 | 65.00 |
| Portugal | 751.00 | 181.00 | 1001.00 | 501.00 | 500.00 |
Australia have Eddie Jones back in charge, and the Aussie press are already bigging up their chances of doing well in this competition, despite the fact that they have not won any of their previous four matches. Wales had hoped that the return of Warren Gatland would breathe fire into their national team, but this is yet to occur. The bookmakers have Australia and Wales as the two teams to go through, but Fiji, who recently beat England at Twickenham, will have something to say about this.
Despite their current form, I think that the Aussies will top this group with four wins from four, while Fiji might cause a bit of an upset and finish in second place to make it through to the last eight. Georgia and Portugal are improving as rugby nations, but hell will freeze over before they make it through to the Quarter-Finals.
My Pool C winner prediction: Australia @ 1.50
Pool D Winner Odds
| Team | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1.86 | 1.83 | 1.91 | 1.83 | 1.66 |
| Argentina | 2.00 | 1.98 | 2.00 | 1.83 | 1.93 |
| Samoa | 41.00 | 29.00 | 41.00 | 51.00 | 36.00 |
| Japan | 67.00 | 41.00 | 26.00 | 26.00 | 32.00 |
| Chile | 501.00 | 161.00 | 1001.00 | 1001.00 | 500.00 |
Heading into the 2023 World Cup, England fans will be thanking their lucky stars that they were drawn in Pool D. Argentina and England are the only two teams that I can see getting out of this group. Japan are getting better and better, but they will have to play out of their skins to beat the likes of England, despite their very poor recent form. Samoa and Chile will enjoy the challenge, but it will be a shock if either of them goes on to make it to the last eight.
When it comes to England and Argentina, England lead the way with 19 victories to Argentina's five. In their last meeting at Twickenham, Argentina claimed their first win on English soil in 16 years with a 30-29 win. While the bookies have England as favourites to top Pool D, I really am not that confident, especially considering their recent form, which includes defeats to Wales and Fiji. So, I would be tempted to back Los Pumas to top the group, with England in second place.
My Pool D winner prediction: Argentina @ 2.00
💯 Outright Odds for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
| Team | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.75 | 3.35 |
| New Zealand | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.75 | 3.20 |
| South Africa | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.50 | 3.50 |
| Ireland | 6.00 | 6.00 | 3.75 | 5.50 | 4.50 |
| Australia | 15.00 | 15.00 | 12.00 | 11.00 | 10.10 |
| England | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 11.60 |
| Argentina | 26.00 | 25.00 | 21.00 | 23.00 | 21.10 |
| Wales | 34.00 | 34.00 | 41.00 | 41.00 | 30.00 |
| Scotland | 34.00 | 34.00 | 34.00 | 41.00 | 28.00 |
| Fiji | 121.00 | 121.00 | 101.00 | 101.00 | 77.00 |
| Italy | 251.00 | 251.00 | 501.00 | 501.00 | 325.00 |
| Japan | 401.00 | 376.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 280.00 |
| Samoa | 501.00 | 476.00 | 301.00 | 501.00 | 375.00 |
| Tonga | 501.00 | 476.00 | 501.00 | 501.00 | 400.00 |
| Georgia | 751.00 | 751.00 | 1001.00 | 501.00 | 475.00 |
| Portugal | 1501.00 | 1501.00 | 5001.00 | 2501.00 | 500.00 |
| Chile | 1501.00 | 1501.00 | 5001.00 | 2501.00 | 500.00 |
| Namibia | 1501.00 | 1501.00 | 5001.00 | 2501.00 | 500.00 |
| Uruguay | 1501.00 | 1501.00 | 5001.00 | 2501.00 | 500.00 |
| Romania | 1501.00 | 1501.00 | 5001.00 | 2001.00 | 500.00 |
France and New Zealand are the favourites with rugby bettors to lift the Webb Ellis trophy in October, with Ireland and South Africa not too far behind. The northern hemisphere has an awful record in World Cup history, with England being the only team from that half of the world to lift the title - who can forget Johnny Wilkinson's last minute drop goal to send England fans into delirium? However, I think a team from Europe will win this year as I believe that the final could see France taking on Ireland.
However, there is one thing that Ireland need to overcome in order to contest the showpiece finale, and that is their history of choking at World Cups once the knockout stages begin. To date, they have yet to make it past the Quarter-Final stage of a World Cup. I think that Farrell will help them overcome that psychological barrier, but if the final is as I predict, my money is on France to win, spurred on by their home crowd.
My top four for the 2023 World Cup is as follows:
- France
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Argentina
My Rugby World Cup 2023 Outright Winner: France @ 4.00
✔️ 2023 Rugby World Cup Betting Tips
At the Rugby World Cup, you can bet on much more than just the outright winner of the competition or the winner of each pool. In this section of our guide, we will take a closer look at some of the other quality markets that the best bookmakers will offer British punters:
Match Winner
There will be a total of 20 teams taking part in this competition, with 48 matches in total, and bettors will be able to put money on the team that they think will win each game - there is also the option of betting on a draw. Knowledge is power as was seen in 2019 when England knocked out the bookmakers' favourite, New Zealand, in the 2019 RWC, with odds of 3.60.
Top Tip 1: Teams that make up the top five will usually be victorious, especially against countries that are outside the top ten. However, this is not something that is written in stone as upsets can and do happen. Just ask South Africa, who were shocked 34-32 by Japan at the 2015 World Cup. So, do not bet on a team simply because they are the favourites to win.
Top Tip 2: While draws in football are common, they are very rare in rugby. In the history of the RWC, there have only ever been nine draws, and three of these were matches that were cancelled due to bad weather. As a result, bookmakers offer long odds for a draw, so it might be worth a punt for those pool games that you think will be close matches.
Handicap Betting
For those matches where one of the participants is considered to be way more superior than their opponents, you will find odds that are not enticing at all. You will probably not feel like betting on the favourite due to the low odds, while you might think that it is a waste of money to bet on the underdog.
In such cases, handicap betting can come in handy as it allows you to give a team a hypothetical points advantage or disadvantage. By doing this, you can increase the odds of the favourite or increase the chances of the underdog "winning" the match. For instance, when England take on Chile, England will be the favourites by a long shot. To increase their odds, you can give them a 20-point deficit.
Top Tip 3: Handicap betting will be most used during the Group Stage of the World Cup when the best teams in the world are taking on the likes of Chile, Portugal, Romania, Georgia, and Uruguay. So, have a look at the upcoming fixtures for the Group Stage, and find those matches where handicap betting will come in handy.
Winning Margin
With this kind of market, what you are doing is gambling on the winner of the match and the points difference that they will go on to win by. Your bookmaker will give you specific points brackets such as 1-7 and 8-14, and your chosen winning teams needs to win by a number within that bracket for your wager to be a successful one.
Top Tip 4: Due to how difficult a market this can be, it often has some of the most enticing odds around. However, you need to exercise caution because markets have high odds for a reason. Your selected team could go on to win the match, but you could still lose the wager if your team underperforms or outperforms your expectations. If you are new to betting on rugby, then this is a bet that I recommend you avoid.
Tries
There are various markets for betting on tries such as the first team to score a try, the last team to score a try, the first or last try-scorer in the game, the total number of tries that will be scored, and whether the number of tries will be an odd or even number. All markets are not available at every bookmaker, so check before you go ahead and open an account with one.
Top Tip 5: Wingers used to be the ones that would score all of the tries, but the modern game has changed so much so, that any player on the field can be a try-scoring threat. Teams with backline flair such as France will make good use of quality wingers such as Damian Penaud, but with Gael Fickou in the middle of the pitch, they do not rely on scoring tries in the corner. Likewise, strong and deceptively quick forwards such as Jamie George and Caelan Doris are always a threat from short range.
First-Half Winner
A team that is winning at the half-time break will not always go on to win the game, which is the reason why the top bookmakers offer odds on the team that will be winning after 40 minutes. You will be able to choose whether Team A or Team B will be in the lead, or if the scores will be level. Some bookmakers will even offer a half-time/full-time market where you will be betting on the outcome of both halves - there are nine different outcomes.
Top Tip 6: The score of a rugby game does not always give the full picture of the state of play. Sides such as New Zealand have a fearsome reputation because they are known for turning around deficits quickly and winning with plenty to spare. So, when making use of such a market, try to foresee how the rugby match will unfold before you just try to double up on a match winner wager.
Top Tip 7: Take the playing conditions into consideration before you place a try-scorer wager. In wet conditions, the forwards will keep the ball more, which will increase the chances of one of the forwards scoring the first try of the match.
Accumulator Betting
Accumulator betting has become very popular among sports bettors due to the fact that it allows them to place small sums while still having the chance of landing some big returns. This is because all of the different odds from your different selections will be multiplied together to form big overall odds. However, what I must stress here is for you to remember that with accumulator bets, you need to get all of your selections right in order to walk away with the win.
Top Tip 8: While it might be enticing to add loads of options to your accumulator in order to boost up the odds significantly, I do not recommend that you do this as you will probably end up losing at least one of your selections. I suggest that you opt for no more than four or five selections. Also, always gamble responsibly!
🏉 Rugby World Cup Match Predictions
I will be writing a number of Rugby World Cup match predictions, and when they are ready you will be able to find them below: So, make sure that you bookmark this page so that you can give them a read.
💪 The Best Rugby World Cup Betting Sites
There are plenty of bookmakers that you can register with in order to bet on the Rugby World Cup 2023. However, some bookmakers are better than others, and below I take a closer look at three of the best.
1️⃣ BetUK Sports: Best Market Variety
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When you are betting on any sporting event, you will want there to be plenty of markets that you can bet on so that things do not become stale and boring. It is fair to say that BetUK Sports fits into such a category - you will find a nice range of ante, live, and outright betting options. To put the icing on the proverbial cake, they have some of the best odds around for UK rugby fans.
If you decide to register here, then you can claim a Welcome Bonus of £30 after placing a £10 qualifying bet. When big sports events are on, such as the Rugby World Cup and FIFA World Cup, they will have competition specific promos, so check out their promotions page regularly.
If you want to find out more about this bookie, you can check out our BetUK review.
2️⃣ LeoVegas: Best Mobile Betting Site
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Nowadays, many British punters like to place bets on the go, so it is vital for them to open an account with an online bookmaker that has a mobile platform. Now, most bookmakers offer mobile betting nowadays, but some offer much better mobile gambling experiences, and LeoVegas is one of those - they have won the "Best Mobile Operator of the Year" more than once. They have an app or 100% mobile compatible desktop site.
To top things off, you will not be disappointed by the odds or market variety that they have available for the 2023 RWC. Think of a market, and you will find it here. If you register with them, they offer a 100% profit boost up to £100.
You can find out more via our LeoVegas review.
3️⃣ Betfred: Best Site for Betting Odds
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When you are betting on the Rugby World Cup, you will want to do so with some of the best odds around as this is how you go about getting the most value for your money when you are fortunate enough to land some winning bets. Out of all the bookmakers that British rugby bettors can open an account with, Betfred is one that offers some of the most competitive odds in the industry. You will also not be let down by any other aspect of their site whether it is market variety, banking options, or customer support.
Those who sign up with Betfred can claim £40 worth of free bets and £10 worth of free spins when using the bonus code "WELCOME40". They also offer acca boosts and acca insurance, alongside other promotions, so it is worth getting into the habit of checking out their promotions page.
Check out our Betfred review for more info.
🎁 Best Rugby World Cup Betting Offers
Want to find out some of the best promotions and free bet offers that can be used on the 2023 Rugby World Cup? If so, then below you can find some that are definitely worth your while checking out.
Match Promotions
18+ | New customers only. | Min deposit €10. Min turnover €15 | Skrill & Neteller not eligible. | T&C apply. | www.gambleaware.org
18+ | Full T&C apply. | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org
18+ | New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings from the free bet. Max conversion: £200. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits.| Terms & Conditions apply. | www.begambleaware.org
18+ New customer only. Place a minimum £25 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free bet is available once. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction
18+. New customers only. Min deposit £20. Max One £10 Free Bet. Min turnover £20. Qualifying Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with Min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. T&Cs apply.
18+. New customer only. Place a minimum £20 bet with minimum odds of evens (2.00) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires after 7 days. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction . T&Cs apply.
18+ | Minimum Deposit: £10. Max. Free Bet Token amount: £15. | PayPal, Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap not eligible for any Free Bet Token offer. | T&C apply. | www.begambleaware.org
18+ | New customers on mobile only | 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify | Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify | Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement | Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater | Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings | 7 day expiry. | More Wagering, banking, terms & conditions apply | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org | Gambling can be addictive.
18+ | New customers on mobile only | £10 minimum bet | More Wagering, banking, Terms & conditions apply | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org
18+ | New players only. | Terms & conditions apply | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org
Terms and conditions apply. All terms and conditions may be found on the respective bookmaker's website.
📊 Pools and Group-Stage Results
As the tournament plays out, I will update the following tables so that you can keep up with how each team is performing.
Pool A
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Bonus Points | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 32 | +178 | 27 | 2 | 18 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 253 | 47 | +206 | 38 | 3 | 15 |
| Italy | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 114 | 181 | -67 | 15 | 2 | 10 |
| Uruguay | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 164 | -99 | 9 | 1 | 5 |
| Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 255 | -218 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Pool B
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Bonus Points | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 46 | +144 | 27 | 3 | 19 |
| South Africa | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 151 | 34 | +117 | 22 | 3 | 15 |
| Scotland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 146 | 71 | +75 | 21 | 2 | 10 |
| Tonga | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 177 | -81 | 13 | 1 | 5 |
| Romania | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 287 | -255 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Pool C
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Bonus Points | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 59 | +84 | 17 | 3 | 19 |
| Fiji | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 83 | +5 | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| Australia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 91 | -1 | 11 | 3 | 11 |
| Portugal | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 64 | 103 | -39 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Georgia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 64 | 113 | -49 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
Pool D
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Bonus Points | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 39 | +111 | 17 | 2 | 18 |
| Argentina | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 127 | 69 | +58 | 15 | 2 | 14 |
| Japan | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 109 | 107 | +2 | 12 | 1 | 9 |
| Samoa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 92 | 75 | +17 | 11 | 3 | 7 |
| Chile | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 215 | -188 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
🗓️ When Will the Rugby World Cup Matches 2023 Take Place?
When you place a bet, you will obviously want to follow it closely so that you can see whether it is successful or not. It also allows you to make use of the cashout option, if there is one available. So, with this in mind, below is the full fixture list of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
| Match | Date (GMT) | RWC Stage | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| France v New Zealand | 20.00 8 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade de France |
| Italy v Namibia | 12.00 9 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard |
| Ireland v Romania | 14.30 9 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de Bordeaux |
| Australia v Georgia | 17.00 9 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade de France |
| England v Argentina | 20.00 9 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de Marseille |
| Japan v Chile | 12.00 10 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de Toulouse |
| South Africa v Scotland | 16.45 10 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de Marseille |
| Wales v Fiji | 20.00 10 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade de Bordeaux |
| France v Uruguay | 20.00 14 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| New Zealand v Namibia | 20.00 15 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade de Marseille |
| Samoa v Chile | 14.00 16 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de Bordeaux |
| Wales v Portugal | 16.45 16 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade de Nice |
| Ireland v Tonga | 20.00 16 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de la Beaujoire |
| South Africa v Romania | 14.00 17 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de Bordeaux |
| Australia v Fiji | 16.45 17 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard |
| England v Japan | 20.00 17 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de Nice |
| Italy v Uruguay | 16.45 20 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade de Nice |
| France v Namibia | 20.00 21 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Stade de Marseille |
| Argentina v Samoa | 16.45 22 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard |
| Georgia v Portugal | 13.00 23 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade de Toulouse |
| England v Chile | 16.45 23 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| South Africa v Ireland | 20.00 23 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de France |
| Scotland v Tonga | 16.45 24 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade de Nice |
| Wales v Australia | 20.00 24 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Parc Olympique Lyonnais |
| Uruguay v Namibia | 20.00 27 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Parc Olympique Lyonnais |
| Japan v Samoa | 20.00 28 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de Toulouse |
| New Zealand v Italy | 20.00 29 Sep 2023 | Pool A | Parc Olympique Lyonnais |
| Argentina v Chile | 14.00 30 Sep 2023 | Pool D | Stade de la Beaujoire |
| Fiji v Georgia | 16.45 30 Sep 2023 | Pool C | Stade de Bordeaux |
| Scotland v Romania | 20.00 30 Sep 2023 | Pool B | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| Australia v Portugal | 16.45 1 Oct 2023 | Pool C | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard |
| South Africa v Tonga | 20.00 1 Oct 2023 | Pool B | Stade de Marseille |
| New Zealand v Uruguay | 20.00 5 Oct 2023 | Pool A | Parc Olympique Lyonnais |
| France v Italy | 20.00 6 Oct 2023 | Pool A | Parc Olympique Lyonnais |
| Wales v Georgia | 14.00 7 Oct 2023 | Pool C | Stade de la Beaujoire |
| England v Samoa | 16.45 7 Oct 2023 | Pool D | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| Ireland v Scotland | 20.00 7 Oct 2023 | Pool B | Stade de France |
| Japan v Argentina | 12.00 8 Oct 2023 | Pool D | Stade de la Beaujoire |
| Tonga v Romania | 16.45 8 Oct 2023 | Pool B | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| Fiji v Portugal | 20.00 8 Oct 2023 | Pool C | Stade de Toulouse |
| Wales v Argentina | 16.00 14 Oct 2023 | Quarter-final 1 | Stade de Marseille |
| Ireland v New Zealand | 20.00 14 Oct 2023 | Quarter-final 2 | Stade de France |
| England v Fiji | 16.00 15 Oct 2023 | Quarter-final 3 | Stade de Marseille |
| France v South Africa | 20.00 15 Oct 2023 | Quarter-final 4 | Stade de France |
| Argentina v New Zealand | 20.00 20 Oct 2023 | Semi-final 1 | Stade de France |
| England v South Africa | 20.00 21 Oct 2023 | Semi-final 2 | Stade de France |
| Argentina v England | 20.00 27 Oct 2023 | Bronze final | Stade de France |
| New Zealand v South Africa | 20.00 28 Oct 2023 | Final | Stade de France |
📜 A Look at the History of the Rugby World Cup
The first edition of the Rugby World Cup was played in Australia and New Zealand in 1987, and it has been played every four years since. New Zealand were the first time to lift the title, defeating France 29-9 in the final. The trophy, which is called the Webb Ellis Cup, is named after a man by the name of William Ellis, who is the one who supposedly invented rugby by picking up the ball and running with it during a game of football.
The editions that were played between 1987 and 1995 saw 16 teams take part, but this number has since risen to 20 teams. Since its conception, 25 countries have played in this tournament, but only four countries have won the title. The reigning champions are South Africa as they defeated England in the 2019 final.
Previous Winners
In the table below you can see the previous winners as well as the best results for those who are yet to lift the trophy.
| Nation | Best Result (Last Achieved) | Winners | Runners-up | Third | Fourth | Quarter-finals | Top-Eight Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Winners (2015) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| South Africa | Winners (2019) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Australia | Winners (1999) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| England | Winners (2003) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| France | Runners-up (2011) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Wales | Third (1987) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Argentina | Third (2007) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Scotland | Fourth (1991) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Ireland | Quarter-finals (2019) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Fiji | Quarter-finals (2007) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Samoa | Quarter-finals (1995) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Canada | Quarter-finals (1991) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Japan | Quarter-finals (2019) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Memorable Moments from the 2019 Rugby World Cup
The 2019 RWC that was held in Japan was a great competition, and below I take a look at some of the highlights:
South Africa Win in Style
The Springboks were dominant right from the start, and fully deserved to win the trophy. Makazole Mapimpi put a cherry on the cake with a wonderful try, taking his try tally for the competition to six. One can't help but wonder whether England's great win over New Zealand in the semi-final took everything out of them.
Uruguay Beat Fiji
The city of Kamakshi was lucky enough to witness one of the best matches of the competition. Heading into the competition, Uruguay had only won two previous World Cup matches, with their last win coming in 2003. With just 22 professional players to choose from, the South Americans pulled off a huge shock by beating Fiji 30-27.
The Japanese Pay Their Respects
The actual final was played on the 2nd of November, but the final for Japan came on October the 13th in their last pool game against the Scots. This was a winner-take-all tie, and there was a chance that it would not go ahead due to Typhoon Hagibis. Ahead of kick-off, there was a minute of silence for those affected by the storm, and a rendition of the Japanese national anthem that raised the hairs on the back of everyone's necks. Japan played out of their skins, won the match 28-21, and qualified for the Quarter-Finals for the first time.
Memorable Moments from the Rugby World Cup Over the Years
Let us now take a look at some of the most memorable moments from Rugby World Cup competitions over the years.
Jonah Lomu Gives Mike Catt and France Nightmares
Jonah Lomu was the first world superstar in rugby union, and at the 1995 World Cup he caused havoc for defences. One player who will remember this the best is Mike Catt, who was trampled over by Lomu on his way to scoring one of his four tries during a 45-29 victory. Then, four years later, during another Semi-Final, he cut his way through the French defence to score yet another wonderful World Cup try.
Wilkinson's Winning 2003 Drop-Goal
Australia and England met in the final of the 2003 final, and after 80 minutes of play, it was all square, meaning that extra time was needed. Elton Flatley scored a penalty with just 10 seconds left on the clock to bring the scores level at the end of regular time. Jonny Wilkinson put England three points ahead before Flatley made it 17-17 in the 97th minute.
With just over a minute remaining of extra-time and a penalty shootout looming, Matt Dawson made a break and brought England to within range of a drop goal. Dawson then passed the ball back to Wilkinson in the pocket, and he slotted it over with his weaker right foot to send England fans into a dreamland.
France's Fightback Against the All Blacks in 1999
France took on the All Blacks in the semi-final of the 199 World Cup, and everyone expected an easy win for a New Zealand team that contained Jonah Lomu. The All Blacks found themselves with a 24-10 lead, but France did not give up and scored 33 unanswered points. The score finished 43-31 to France in what is one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions on the Rugby World Cup Betting
1️⃣ When Will the RWC 2023 take place?
The Rugby World Cup in 2023 will kick off on the 8th of September with the final being played on the 28th of October. Both the opening game, which sees France take on New Zealand, and the final will be played at the Stade de France.
2️⃣ Who are the favourites for the Rugby World Cup 2023?
The bookmakers have France, New Zealand, and South Africa as the three main favourites for the 2023 World Cup. Personally, I would put my money on France at at odds of 4.00.
3️⃣ What are the odds for England to win the Rugby World Cup 2023?
4️⃣ What are the best brands for betting on the Rugby World Cup?
The top brands that I would recommend for placing bets on the Rugby World Cup 2023 include Parimatch Sports, BetUK, LeoVegas, Kwiff, and Betfred. They all offer plenty of markets, good odds, and some good bonuses and promotions.
5️⃣ Are there any Rugby World Cup free bets on Offer?
6️⃣ Who has the Most Rugby World Cup titles?
South Africa and New Zealand have won the Rugby World Cup a total of three times. South Africa are the reigning champions, while New Zealand last lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2015. Australia have won it twice, while England have won it once. No other teams have lifted the title.
7️⃣ Which Team Won the RWC 2019?
South Africa were victorious in 2019, overcoming England 32-12 in the final.
✒️ Sheldon Muchmore - iGaming and Sports Betting Enthusiast
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This Rugby World Cup betting guide was written by Sheldon Muchmore.
Sheldon is a tipster and betting expert from the United Kingdom who has a passion for a whole range of sports, particularly football, rugby, and cricket. He is an avid Aston Villa fan, having been so since the age of five. He has been involved in the online gambling industry for a good number of years now and has written many predictions and guides for a wide of sports, so he has built up a lot of sporting expertise over the years.
