Betting Preview for the 2023 Rugby World Cup with Latest Odds and Pick

The tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup is just around the corner; this is why it’s no surprise that sportsbooks have already released their Rugby World Cup 2023 odds.

The tournament starts on September 8th, 2023, in France, where the host nation and another 19 teams will compete for the title. So, which of them will lift the trophy on October 28th?

Will South Africa defend the title, or will some of the other heavyweights –  New Zealand, Australia, and England – snap it from the hands of the “Springboks”? Or maybe it’s time for France or Ireland to win their first-ever Rugby World Cup?

Those are all the questions I’ll try to answer in my 2023 Rugby World Cup preview, but first things first, let’s see what online sportsbooks have to say about the 2023 tournament.

As you can see from Bovada’s 2023 Rugby World Cup odds, there are four teams that can be thought of as serious candidates for the title.

France is the No. 1 favorite, which is not only because this is a great team, but also because the Rugby World Cup games will be played in nine French cities.

Next on the list is New Zealand, which is one of the two most successful teams in the Rugby World Cup history, with three trophies in its collection. South Africa also has three titles; more importantly, this team is the reigning champion.

Ireland is also in the mix, mainly because this team won the Six Nations Championship earlier this year.

In addition to the top four title contenders, there’s another team with Rugby World Cup 2023 odds shorter than +1000. It’s England, a team that’s looking for its second trophy, exactly 20 years after winning the first one.

If these 2023 rugby world cup odds sound intriguing to you, be sure head on over to Bovada to bet now!

France is the team with the shortest Rugby World Cup 2023 odds. Their squad is young, with players hungry for success.

Even though coach Fabien Galthie is yet to confirm the French roster, it’s almost certain this team will be made up of players in their mid-20s. For instance, the team captain Antoine Dupont is only 26.

A downside is that the French might not have enough experience with big matches. However, they’ll have their fans to support them from the stands. Playing at home can big a big advantage, as evident from the fact that the French won both of their home games in the 2023 Six Nations last March.

Actually, Galthie’s men have won every single match played in France since March 2021, when Scotland beat them in Paris. However, there’s a caveat – that game was played with no spectators as COVID-19 rules were still in place two years ago.

France’s odds at BetUS and Everygame are +275, while BetOnline offers +285 odds. Their 2023 Rugby World Cup odds are very close on each site, so feel free to choose one that caters the best to your gambling needs.

France might be the biggest Rugby World Cup favorite, but at least three more teams need to be taken seriously.

I will now dissect their odds to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup and explain why (or why not) they might be good betting options.

The “All Blacks” are the most successful team in the Rugby World Cup history, with nine appearances in the Top 8. In three of those, the New Zealanders went all the way to win the trophy, with the 2015 tournament being the last time they did it.

Most of the players from the 2015 trophy-winning squad are now retired, with some notable exceptions. For example, New Zealand captain Sam Cane had a pivotal role eight years ago and is expected to do great in France as well.

The Republic of Ireland has arguably the best rugby union teams in the world in 2023. The proof is that the Irish won the 2023 Six Nations Championship a few months back, going 5-0 in the tournament.  

Actually, Ireland is without a single loss in over 13 months. The last time the Irish lost was in a friendly match against New Zealand in the summer of 2022.

The “Springboks” are the reigning champions of the Rugby World Cup who won the title four years ago in Japan.

The great news for the fans of the South Africa team is that practically all the players who impressed in the 2019 tournament are set to travel to France – Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Siya Kolisi, and others.

I honestly doubt Chile will do anything in this team’s first World Cup appearance ever. The same goes for all the other teams with the Rugby World Cup 2023 odds of +250000.

In fact, I very much doubt we’ll see anything from any team priced at +10000 or more.

But I do think we might see an underdog shine in France. The team I’m talking about is England, the runner-up in the previous World Cup.

This year makes the 200th anniversary of the invention of rugby by English clergyman William Webb Ellis, so it would be suitable if England won the trophy.

Another thing they can use to fuel their motivation in France is the fact that they came very close to winning the title four years ago. They were favored to win in the 2019 final, but the ‘Boks outsmarted them.

Oddsmakers don’t seem to share my enthusiasm, with some even giving odds of +1100.

So, which are the best online betting sites to use if you want to put your money on England?

Well, BetOnline and SportsBetting are giving the most lucrative Rugby World Cup 2023 odds on “Red and Whites.”

France is the No. 1 favorite to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and there’s a good reason for that.

This is a fantastic team with relatively young players who are determined to bring their nation the first-ever World Cup trophy.

As if that wasn’t enough, this tournament is taking place in France, with the Final taking place at the country’s biggest stadium, the Stade de France, which can host more than 80,000 spectators.

With the Rugby World Cup 2023 odds of +1100 at BetOnline and SportsBetting, this team is definitely worth backing, even with a small stake.

Be sure to check out our rugby betting guide, which provides more insight into the different types of rugby bets and the different betting strategies to use.

Footnote:

• Tournament info taken from the official Rugby World Cup website.