The Rugby World Cup is competed every four years, and is a tournament which is competed between the top 20 International Teams.
The location of the competition varies, with Japan being the latest nation to host the tournament in 2019. The host country is decided by board members on the World Rugby Council. The selection tends to be made around five years prior to the tournament getting underway.
Unlike other International knock-out tournaments, the Rugby World Cup has a relatively short history, with the inaugural staging of the event taking place in 1987.
Each of the 20 teams will be competing for the Webb Ellis Cup, which is apparently named after the inventor of the game. Only four teams have been successful in the competition with current holders New Zealand being victorious on three occasions. Australia and South Africa are tied on two, whilst England have been successful once, back in 2003. England remain the only side outside of the southern hemisphere to have been victorious. Outside of the big four, France are the only side to have reached the final.
2015 was the first time that New Zealand have been successful on foreign soil.
Other nations who regularly compete in the Rugby World Cup include Wales, Ireland, Argentina and Fiji.
Prior to 1999, the tournament consisted of 16 teams, with four more nations now invited to take each every four years. Qualifying did not take place for the inaugural tournament in 1987 however the process has changed a number of times over the years. Between 2003 and 2007, the eight quarter-finalists will be automatically qualify for the following tournament whilst the remaining twelve positions will be filled by sides who are successful in their respective continental qualifying competitions. These tournaments will help ensure that at least three teams from the Americas will take part, with two Oceania representatives also guaranteed to qualify. Since 2007, twelve teams from the previous tournament will qualify with teams who finish third or better in their respective groups asked to return four years later.
Typically the tournament will be staged over a period of six weeks with games taking place at numerous stadiums around the country. There will be four groups which consist of five teams with the top two qualifying for the next round of the competition. There is also the Bronze Final which helps determine which team will finish third and pick up a bronze medal.
The event has grown in popularity over the years, with worldwide TV audiences topping three billion. The 2003 final between England and Australia was the most-watched match in the sports history.
The 2015 tournament which was hosted in the UK was the most attended Rugby World Cup to date. The average attendance was announced as 51,000. The 2015 final was also the highest-scoring Rugby World Cup final to date (34-17)
Jonny Wilkinson holds the record for the most point accrued at the tournament with a total of 277. Team-mate Jason Leonard holds the record for most appearances at the tournament having featured 22 times. Australia beat Namibia 142-0 to set records tumbling back in 2003. It is a winning margin which is unlikely to be usurped at this tournament.
Why is it So Popular?
The Rugby World Cup provides an opportunity for Rugby Union fans to witness the top twenty teams in the world go head-to-head. It is a chance to see some of the worlds best players competing on the same stage, and the tournament regularly produces plenty of drama.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
The Rugby World Cup is one of the most popular events for bettors with punters being able to wager on the ante-post markets as well as on a game-by-game basis.
The bookmakers will price up numerous ante-post markets months in advance, and these prices will often fluctuate once squads are announced.
Key Betting Markets
Tournament Winner – The simplest market available for ante-post punters. This is simply a case of predicting which team will be victorious in the tournament, and who will lift the Webb Ellis Trophy. Only four teams have ever been successful in the competition, and although it is a relatively competitive betting market, it can often be whittled down to just a handful of nations. Each-way betting is available, but teams must reach the final in order to trigger a pay-out (at 1/3 of the odds)
Name the Finalists – Significantly bigger returns are available for punters who can correctly predict which of the two teams will reach the show-piece event. There are numerous options in this market, but once again, it is generally competed between a small number of nations.
To Finish Third – The Bronze Final will determine which side will finish in third place. Punters can predict which team will achieve a podium finish. This is an ante-post market, but there will be separate betting markets available once the identity of the two teams has been revealed.
To Reach the Quarter-Finals – This market will allow bettors to select which country will reach the final eight of the competition. Getting to this stage will automatically trigger qualification for the subsequent tournament. This is ideal for countries who start at bigger prices, and are perceived outsiders.
Top Tryscorer – A number of player-related ante-post markets are available ahead of the tournament getting underway. Punters can predict which player will score the highest amount of tries during the course of the event. Although the market is somewhat based around current form, players who represent leading hopes such as Australia and New Zealand are likely to be shorter prices in this market.
First Time Winner – There are a number of countries who are yet to be successful in the tournament, and this market allows punters to predict whether there will be a new name on the trophy.
Stage of Elimination – Odds are available on the stage at which each team will crash out of the competition. The quarter-final and semi-final stages are the most popular options in this market. Bigger prices are available for those who predict the likes of New Zealand and Australia will go home early.
Match-by-Match
Match Handicap – With many matches during the group stage being potentially one-sided, this market allows punters to find value. The favourites will be given a hurdle to overcome (for example -19), and they must win by a sufficient amount of points in order to clear this obstacle. For example – If a team are -16 on the handicap, they must win by 17 clear points in order to trigger a pay-out.
Total Points – This is a great way of betting on a match-by-match basis without having to pick a winner. Bettors will be asked to predict how many points will be scored during the course of the contest. The bookmakers will set this margin pre-match, although there are several other options available.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Rugby World Cup
Six Nations Form Doesn’t Naturally Translate – Ireland have been dominant in the Six Nations in recent years, but they have tended to struggle on a global scale. You can be successful over the shorter format of Six Nations, but it doesn’t mean that it will carry over. First of all, several months have elapsed since the tournament, and the games come much faster at the Rugby World Cup. Teams often have 7-14 days to recover from their exertions during the Six Nations, but they won’t be afforded that kind of respite here. Also, the tournament features more powerful teams from the Southern Hemisphere, and the majority of games will be held in unknown stadiums.
Plot Each Teams Path To the Final – Each team will be drawn into a group, with the top two qualifying for the next round. If you’re betting on the ante-post market, it’s a good idea to work out who each team is likely to face if they qualify for the final eight. Doing this will help determine whether they have an easier draw, or have a tough run to the final two.
Don’t Neccessarily Assume that the Two Best Teams will Produce a High-Scoring Contest – Although the 2015 final was a thoroughly entertaining contest, it was actually a bit of an anomaly. Finals generally are low-scoring, whilst games between the best teams aren’t neccessarily high-scoring contests. Sometimes these teams cancel one another out.
Where Can I Watch the Rugby World Cup?
The Rugby World Cup will be shown on ITV this year with UK viewers able to catch up on ITV Player.
