Rugby is among the world’s most popular sports, and like cricket and soccer, there are a number of different international tournaments that take place around the globe every year. These range from international events to globally spanning championships that attract millions of fans every year.
For those that have entered the rugby betting scene for the first time, it can quickly become overwhelming when faced with the number of tournaments that take place annually.
Thankfully, there are only a few events that are worth keeping track of, and because they continue all year round, there’s never a shortage of rugby bets on the table, which provide a perfect balance to the fun of playing real slots NZ between the tournaments.
1. The Six Nations Championship
Often considered as rugby’s most difficult international competition, the Six Nations involves a number of northern hemisphere countries, including England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Italy.
England has been leading the tournament for the last few years, and has won the competition a total of 28 times. An entirely independent betting market exists within the Six Nations, known as the Triple Crown series, which involves Scotland, Wales, England, and Ireland. Winning all five matches in the competition is the only way to earn the title of Grand Slam, which Wales was the last to do in 2012.
2. The Rugby Union World Cup
The Rugby Union World Cup takes place every four years between 20 teams, and is hosted by winning bid nations in both the northern and southern hemispheres. New Zealand dominated the tournament when it took place in 2015, and the next one is to be hosted by Japan, in the city of Yokohama.
Since its creation in 1987, the winning team of the event earns the coveted William Webb Ellis Cup. Since its inception in 1987, only four nations have been victorious overall.
3. The Rugby Championship
The Rugby Championship is traditionally a Tri-Nations event that takes place between New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. In 2012, the tournament was rebranded to included Argentina as a new competitor.
The Rugby Championship is known for its much faster pace in comparison to regular rugby games due to the harsh and dry conditions that are commonplace in the Southern Hemisphere. The event has been dominated by New Zealand, who has won three consecutive championships and losing only one in 18 matches.
4. The Lions Rugby Union Tournament
One of the oldest competitions in the world of rugby, and one that teams can only play through invitation, the Lions Rugby Union Tournament usually include players from the British Isles who travel to face New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa.
The Lions have toured the Southern Hemisphere to play against the best they have to offer every four years since 1888. It’s a competition that Australia has dominated for the last 15 years, but the team is set to take on the mighty All Blacks in the next iteration.