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Rugby Betting In Michigan
Michigan sports betting offers more than just the NFL or NBA, as it encompasses a wide range of sporting events. While American professional and college sports dominate the betting scene in Michigan, there are also numerous international sports available for wagering.
In Michigan, you have the option to place bets on rugby, which consists not just of one, but two alternate sports. Rugby Union and Rugby League are distinct variations of the same game that are played in various international competitions and professional associations worldwide. Interestingly, there is even a professional rugby league right here in the United States.
Rugby betting markets will always be available when these are active. Additionally, Michigan online sportsbooks provide statewide access to both Rugby Union and Rugby League betting markets.
If you’re interested in rugby betting in Michigan, this article covers all the essential information. It provides an overview of Rugby Union and Rugby League betting markets, along with details on the top sports betting apps available in the Great Lake State and when and where to access them.
Best sportsbooks for Rugby promos and lines
The difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League
Rugby is often described as a blend of soccer and football, eliminating forward passing, and is widely acknowledged as the precursor of American football. The playing area, known as the pitch, closely resembles a football field, featuring a goal line, an end zone (referred to as the try line and try zone in rugby), and H-shaped goalposts, also known as uprights, at both ends.
Both Rugby Union and Rugby League are played with slight variations in their rules. Nonetheless, the main objective remains the same for both: advancing the ball up the field and outscoring the opposing team.
There are 15 players on the field in a Rugby Union team, and the duration of matches is 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each.
In order to push the ball towards the goal line, players have the option to run with it or pass it laterally to their teammates. Additionally, they can choose to kick the ball forward and chase after it themselves.
The defense aims to either tackle the ball carrier, snatch the ball from their possession, or intercept a kicked ball and initiate a counterattack in the opposite direction.
Teams score consists of:
- Attempt (5 points): As players carry the ball across the goal line, they must place it down in the try zone.
- Conversion refers to the act of players successfully kicking the ball through the goalposts after a try.
- Scoring a penalty kick (worth 3 points) occurs when the ball is successfully kicked through the goalposts following the awarding of a penalty kick due to different rule violations.
- A drop goal, worth 3 points, occurs when players execute a drop kick by bouncing and kicking the ball through the goalposts while the game is in progress.
When the ball crosses the boundaries, a throw-in called a line-out occurs. Up to seven players from each team assemble and vie for possession of the ball in mid-air after it is thrown in along a straight line.
Penalty kicks are given out as a result of significant violations such as head tackling, while minor infractions, like passing the ball forward, result in a scrum. During a scrum, up to eight players from each team form a pile, interlocking their arms and shoulders. The ball is then inserted into a narrow gap between the teams, and they battle it out to gain possession.
Rugby League differences
On the other hand, Rugby League teams consist of 13 players and compete on a slightly smaller field. The matches still last for 80 minutes, with two halves of 40 minutes each. Although the scoring methods remain the same, the assigned values differ.
The scoring system in Rugby League is as follows:
- Try: Worth 4 points
- The goal (conversion or penalty kick) is valued at 2 points.
- A field goal, also known as a drop goal, is valued at 1 point.
In Rugby League, a scrum is formed instead of a line-out when the ball goes out of bounds. This is another significant distinction between the two sports.
Rugby match betting options
Michigan sportsbooks typically provide similar betting options for both Rugby Union and Rugby League matches, whether they are part of an international competition or professional circuit. These options typically include:
- Moneylines allow you to choose a team to win or predict a draw in a match. Once you place your bet at the existing moneyline odds, you are guaranteed those odds regardless of any changes before the game. If your prediction is correct, you win and receive payment based on the odds you initially locked in.
- Spreads: Choose a team to win the game based on the spread determined by oddsmakers. Place your bet at the existing spread and moneyline odds. If the team you selected surpasses the spread by winning as the favored team with a larger margin, losing by a narrower margin than the spread, or winning outright as the underdog, you will receive payment based on the odds you initially locked in.
- Three-way spreads involve selecting either one team to win or predicting that the game will end in a draw, taking into account a spread determined by oddsmakers. This type of betting is comparable to spread betting, but it does not result in a push when the final score ends up as a draw with the spread.
- Choose one team to win the match with an alternative spread included in the final score, offering different handicaps. Modify the points in the alternative spread to influence the odds.
- Pick whether the total points scored by both teams will be higher or lower than the line set by oddsmakers.
- Select a team and predict their victory by specifying an exact number of points or a range of points. The greater the precision of your prediction, the higher the chances of winning.
Betting on a match in-game
Live betting for major rugby matches in top-flight leagues and international competitions will be provided by betting apps in Michigan.
The aforementioned rugby markets are typically offered with constantly fluctuating odds during a match. In-game betting is specifically tailored for online platforms and sportsbook apps, as it allows for rapid changes in odds.
Rugby futures
In Michigan, it is essential for online sports betting apps to provide futures markets for significant rugby matches. This enables individuals to place bets on the potential winners of various professional leagues and international tournaments. These betting options should be available in Michigan, offering odds that are constantly adjusted throughout a season or event.
Top pro rugby circuits
Major League Rugby
The professional Rugby Union championship in North America is known as Major League Rugby. Typically, the season for Major League Rugby spans five months, starting in February and concluding by the end of June.
In 2020, a total of twelve teams participated in the season, with eleven representing the United States and one hailing from Toronto, Canada. The league debuted in 2018, and the Seattle Seawolves emerged victorious in the first two seasons, earning them the championship title.
In the 2020 season, a new conference format was introduced. Each team was set to participate in a double round-robin within their respective six-team conferences. Additionally, they were scheduled to play six games against teams from the opposing conference. As for the postseason, it was planned to involve the top three teams from each conference. The second- and third-ranked teams would compete in wild card games, and the winners would then face off against the top seeds. Finally, the victorious teams from each conference would advance to the league’s championship game.
After commencing on February 8, 2020, the season was halted in March due to the outbreak of the pandemic. The league has subsequently declared that it will not recommence until 2021.
Ahead of the next season, sportsbooks should provide futures markets for Major League Rugby and continue to offer match markets throughout the season.
Gallagher Premiership Rugby
The Gallagher Premiership Rugby is the premier Rugby Union competition in the United Kingdom, established in 1987. Consisting of 12 teams, this top-flight division vies for the coveted Gallagher Premiership Rugby title and opportunities to participate in Europe’s prestigious club tournaments: the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
At the conclusion of the season, the team that finishes in last place in the league is demoted to the second division known as the RFU Championship. On the other hand, the victorious team in the RFU Championship earns a promotion to the esteemed Gallagher Premiership.
In general, the season spans from September to June, during which every team competes against each other both at home and away. The playoffs take place in June, where the top four teams from the league table participate in two semifinals. The winners then proceed to the final, held at Twickenham Stadium in London, England, to determine the Premiership Champion. Saracens emerged as the champions in 2019.
In March 2020, the 2020 league season came to a halt. However, there are plans to resume the season in August 2020. When that time comes, it would be fitting for Michigan sportsbooks to offer betting markets for Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches.
National Rugby League
Australia and New Zealand’s premier men’s Rugby League competition is the National Rugby League (NRL). Spanning from March to October, the season showcases 16 teams.
The NRL premiership season commences in March and concludes in September. Subsequently, the Finals Series takes place, featuring the top eight teams competing against each other over a span of four weeks. Eventually, only two teams prevail and advance to the Grand Final, typically held on the initial Sunday of October.
Australia’s grand finale is one of the nation’s most beloved sporting spectacles, rivalling the Super Bowl in terms of its extravagant displays and festivities.
The Sydney Roosters have emerged victorious in consecutive NRL championships.
The 2020 season kicked off as planned, but Round 2 matches took place in vacant stadiums, and some were relocated due to the global pandemic. However, everything came to a halt on March 23, 2020, when the league was suspended, and all matches were called off. Fortunately, the season resumed on May 28, 2020, with a modified 20-round contest, where each team will face every other once, along with five additional games. As of now, the NRL Grand Final is scheduled for October 25, 2020.
Once they are operational, Michigan sportsbooks will provide betting markets for 2020 NRL matches.
Betfred Super League
The Super League, consisting of 12 teams, is the premier professional Rugby League club tournament within the Northern Hemisphere. Among these teams, 10 are English, one is French, and one is Canadian.
In the Super League, each team competes in a total of 29 games spanning from January to October. Following this, the five best-performing teams advance to a playoff series, ultimately leading to the highly anticipated Grand Final. Here, the Super League Champion is determined and rightfully crowned.
In the hierarchy of leagues, the team at the bottom is demoted to the Championship level, while the winner of the Championship level gets promoted to the Super League.
In January 2020, the Super League XXV season commenced, only to be halted in March.
The league is contemplating a comeback in mid-August, with potential changes to the schedule that may involve 22, 24, or 28 games. Additionally, they are considering hosting the Grand Final either by the end of November, mid-December, or mid-January 2021.
When the season resumes, it would be beneficial for Michigan sportsbooks to provide Betfred Super League betting markets.
Super Rugby
The Super Rugby competition is a global club tournament for men’s Rugby Union, featuring 15 teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The Japanese team had planned for the 2020 season to be their final one in the competition. However, in March 2020, play was halted, and the team has remained silent about their future ever since.
In general, the Super Rugby season divides teams into three separate conferences: the Australian Conference, which includes the Japanese Sunwolves, the New Zealand Conference, and the South African Conference, which includes the Argentine Jaguares.
The group stage of Super Rugby spans from January to early June and comprises 18 rounds of matches. Each team competes in 16 matches and is granted two bye weeks. The champions from each conference earn a spot in the Super Rugby finals, while the top five non-conference winners also qualify. These teams then engage in a playoff to determine the ultimate Super Rugby Champion.
The 2020 season in New Zealand Rugby was replaced by the introduction of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, which featured all five New Zealand Super Rugby teams. The tournament commenced on June 13, 2020.
The 2020 season of Rugby Australia will be substituted by the Super Rugby AU, which features the participation of four Australian teams. The commencement of matches took place on June 3, 2020.
When Michigan sportsbooks become available, they should include betting markets for Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.
International rugby competitions
The 2021 Rugby League World Cup
The England-hosted 2021 Rugby League World Cup is set to take place from October 23rd to November 27th.
The upcoming Rugby League World Cup will mark its 16th edition, featuring a total of 16 international teams. This includes the eight quarter-finalists from the previous tournament, six qualifying teams from Europe, six qualifying teams from the Asia-Pacific region, and one team each from the Middle East/Africa, the Americas, and an intercontinental playoff.
The 16 teams are:
- Jamaica
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Tonga
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- England
- France
- Wales
- Scotland
- Ireland
- Greece
- Italy
- Lebanon
Australia has won the championship two times in a row and is currently holding the title.
The event is forthcoming, thus it is advisable to initiate the opening of betting markets in Michigan.
The 2025 Rugby World Cup
France is set to host the Rugby Union’s 2025 Rugby World Cup, which will take place from September 8 to October 21.
A total of twenty teams will participate in the upcoming competition. This includes twelve teams that achieved top-three positions in their respective pools during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, France has been granted an automatic bid as the host nation. The remaining eight teams will secure their spots through ongoing regional competitions, cross-regional playoffs, and a repechage tournament set to take place in November 2022.
The defending champion is South Africa.
The betting markets ought to be accessible in Michigan prior to the event.