Last updated on March 30th, 2023

Betting in Rugby for New Jersey

Rugby betting is not something you would traditionally think of when you think of sports betting in the US. Yes, betting on football, baseball and basketball are far more mainstream, but there is still a niche audience for betting on rugby.  For those who don’t know, rugby is a sport that originated in England, UK. It shares many similarities with American Football, with some minor differences in the rules and scoring systems. It’s likely that its association with football is what makes it appealing to US bettors. But what if you’re new to betting on rugby and don’t know where to begin? Well, we’ve got you covered. Our experts have compiled this handy guide to tell you everything you need to know including  who to bet with, how to bet on rugby, what markets to bet on and more.  

Top Rugby Bookmakers for New Jersey

FanDuel NJ Sportsbook Review

4.8/5
Bet $5 Get $150

BetMGM Sports

4.7/5
First Bet Offer get up to $1500
paid back in Bonus Bets if you don’t win
21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit BetMGM.com for T&C’s Apply, 21+. Promotion available in NJ.
Bonus Code : SPORTS

BetRivers NJ Sportsbook Review

4.7/5
2nd Chance Bet Up To $250
Must be 21+ T&Cs apply

Bet365 Sports

4.5/5
First Bet Safety Net
up to $1,000 in bonus bets!
New customers only. Deposit required. Free Bets added to Free Bet Credits balance. Free Bet risk excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
CODE: GSHSPORTS1000

Caesars NJ Sportsbook Review

4.5/5
First Bet Back Up To
$1,000 if your bet losses
Must be 21+ T&Cs apply

Borgata Sports

4.1/5
Up to $100 in value
Minimum $10
Must be 21+ T&Cs apply

PointsBet Sports

4.1/5
Up to $2000
2 chance-bet
Must be 21+ T&Cs apply

If you’re wanting to get involved in rugby betting in New Jersey, the great news is that all of the top sportsbooks offer odds on it. For the best experience, our sports betting experts recommend the below online bookmakers. 

You’ll find that with the majority of online sportsbook operators in the Garden State, you’ll only be able to bet on rugby union games. However, with the European giants UniBet, you can bet on both rugby union and rugby league on their sportsbook website and betting app.  

 In case you aren’t aware, the sport of rugby is separated into two segments known as “codes”. They are largely similar, but have some slight rule differences. For the purposes of rugby betting, it’s important to know the differences between these, so that you know exactly what you are betting on.  

How to Bet in Rugby 

If you’re new to betting online on rugby and you’re wondering how it’s done, then fear not. Our experts have outlined exactly how to place a rugby bet below. Simply follow these steps:  

 Once you’re finished rugby betting, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the action as you wait to see if your bet comes up a winner.  

Which Markets to Bet in Rugby in New Jersey 

The great thing about betting on rugby is that you can find some new and exciting markets to bet on that you might not find in other sports. Some of the most common rugby betting markets include: 

 For big tournaments and competitions, such as the Rugby World Cup, you could also place a futures bet in the lead up to its beginning. Future bets are a way to bet on events that are set to happen in the future, generally 30 days or more.  

Markets to Bet Rugby around the World 

Rugby betting is popular in many countries around the world including the UK and Australia. In those countries, you may find some other alternative betting markets such as:  

 Depending on the country you’re betting in and the bookmaker you’re betting with, you’ll likely find lots more rugby betting markets to get involved in.  

 Glossary in Betting on Rugby 

If you’re new to rugby betting, or even if you’re not, you may come across some betting terms or slang that you’re not familiar with. That’s why our experts have put together this glossary, so that you can find the meaning of the most commonly used terms.  

 A 

Advantage – an advantage is a period of time granted by the referee following an infringement in which the non-offending team is given the opportunity to gain territory.  

 B 

 Bonus points – a way for teams to earn extra points in games. Brought in to encourage offensive play.  

 Blood bin – a player with a visible blood injury can be replaced for up to 15 minutes in the blood bin. After they have received treatment, the player is able to return to the game.  

 Breakdown – this refers to the period after a tackle and ruck that follows. This is where the majority of infringements are made.  

 C 

 Caution – a cautioned player is shown a yellow card by the referee. They must then sit out of the game for a period of 10 minutes.  

 Centre – positions in a rugby team identified by numbers 12 and 13. 

 Conversion – if a team scores a try, they are then given the opportunity to add further points to their tally with a conversion kick. This must clear the crossbar and be inside the posts. 

 D 

 Double chance – backing a team to either win or draw, increasing the chances of a win. This is a kind of hedge bet that is popular in other countries.  

 Drop kick – this is when a player drops the ball and kicks it just as it hits the ground. This is most often employed to attempt a drop goal.  

 Dummy pass – this is when a player fakes a pass and continues to carry the ball themselves in an attempt to fool opposition defenders.  

 F 

 Flanker – a position in rugby which is identified by the numbers 6 and 7. The flankers are some of the busiest players in a game.  

 Fly half – a position which is identified by the number 10 jersey. Arguably the most influential player on the pitch, calling plays and, usually, taking all of the kicks.  

 Forward pass – in rugby, a pass with the hands must either be flat or backwards. If the ball is ruled to have been passed forwards, this is an infringement and scrum to the opposition team.  

 Fullback – a position identified by the number 15 jersey. Often operate as the last line of defence to catch any kicks from the opposition deep into defensive territory.  

 G 

Game props – special bets that involve placing a wager on specific things happening in a game.  

Goal – when a player kicks the ball over the crossbar and between the posts.  

H 

Handicap – similar to spread betting. A bet on a team to win by a particular margin.  

High tackle – an infringement in which a player is deemed to have made a tackle above the line of the shoulders (usually the neck or head). These can sometimes result in a red card. 

Hand-off – the act of holding off an opposition player in order to continue gaining territory with the ball.  

Hooker – a position that is identified by the number 2 jersey. The hooker’s main role is to take their place in the heart of the scrum.  

K 

Kick off – each half of the game is started by one team kicking the ball into opposition territory.  

Knock on – an infringement in which a player touches the ball and makes it go forwards until it touches either the ground or an opposition player.  

L 

Late tackle – an infringement in which a defensive player makes a tackle on a player who no longer has the ball in possession.  

Line out – an action in which the hooker must throw the ball into the centre of two line ups who must compete for possession.  

Lock – a position that is identified by the number 4 and 5 jerseys. Locks tend to be the primary targets in a line out.  

O 

Offside – a player is offside when they are ahead of the offensive line when the ball is played.  

Offload pass – a quick, short pass made by a player who is about to be tackled.  

Onside – the opposite of offside.  

 P 

Penalty – penalties are awarded when there is an infringement in the game. The offending team must retreat 10 meters.  

Penalty try – if the referee deems that a try was unlawfully prevented by the defending team, they can award a penalty try.  

Professional foul – a deliberate act of foul play, usually employed to prevent a team from scoring.  

R 

Red card – this is the toughest punishment in the game. A player who received a red card must immediately leave the game and cannot be replaced (reducing the number of players on the team by one).  

Ruck – a ruck is formed when the ball is on the ground and the two opposing teams compete for possession.  

S 

Scrum – eight forwards from each team bind together and push against one another with the aim of gaining territory. The ball must be fed into the scrum by the offensive team and must be straight down the middle.  

Scrum half – a position that is identified by the number 9 jersey. Scrum halves are the link between the attacking and back lines.  

Sin bin – when a player is shown a yellow card, they must go to the sin bin to sit out of the game for a period of 10 minutes.  

Spear tackle – a dangerous tackle in which a player is lifted and slammed to the ground. Spear tackles are a serious infringement and can result in yellow or red cards.  

Spread betting – like handicap betting, a bet for a team to win by a predetermined margin.  

T 

Tackle – the act of bringing a player in possession of the ball to the ground.  

Tap kick – when the offensive side is awarded a penalty, a player may opt to tap kick the ball with their foot to immediately restart play.  

TMO – an acronym for Television Match Official. A referee who uses video technology to review contentious decisions, such as tries and infringements. The TMO is a support for the main match referee.  

Tight end – a tight end prop is a position identified by the number 3. They take the right hand position on the front line of the scrum.  

Touch – this is the area outside of the white lines either side of the pitch. When the ball goes over the line, it is into touch. 

Try – the primary method of scoring in rugby. A try is scored by a player who places the ball down either on or over the goal line and applies downward pressure to it.  

Turnover – when possession of the ball is changed from one team to another. This usually occurs in the breakdown.  

W 

Winger – a position that is identified by the number 11 and 14 jerseys. These tend to be the fastest players in the team and their primary role is to use their agility to score tries.