Rugby World Cup Sevens Betting 2024

The Rugby World Cup Sevens will take place from September 9 to September 11 at Cape Town Stadium in South Africa. It will be the first time the tournament has been held on the African continent. 

Cape Town Stadium has a capacity of 55,000 people. It is worth noting that Cape Town is at sea level, so players, especially those coming from the Northern Hemisphere, won't have to adjust to high altitudes as in the likes of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The weather at this time of the year is quite mild, although rain showers will be a possibility. 

South Africa 7s team celebrates the cup final win during Day 2 of HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens on April 14, 2019 at National Stadium in Singapore.

Potential Clashes

Round of 16 - England v Ireland

The reward for Ireland, if they get past Portugal in the preliminary round, is a last-16 tie with England, who have made the final for the past two years. This will be a huge match for Ireland against their old rivals and they have the capability of causing an upset if on song.

Quarter-final - New Zealand v Argentina

The odds suggest that a quarter-final between New Zealand and Argentina is very likely. New Zealand will be heavy favourites to beat either Scotland or Jamaica in the last 16, and the same could be said for Argentina when they play either Kenya or Tonga. 

Semi-finals - New Zealand v England

The way the draw has worked out this year means that there can be no repeat of the last two finals between New Zealand and England, but they can meet at the semi-final stages. 

Who are the favourites to win?

Pictured: South Africa celebrates victory and a gold medal in South Africa vs New Zealand game. Source: Sport In Pictures. 27th July 2014.

New Zealand have won the last two editions of the tournament and are the most successful team in its history with three titles, so much of the attention will be on them once more. 

But the last major sevens tournament was the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), when defending champions Fiji won gold by beating New Zealand 27-12 in the final. The small Pacific Island nation are one of the most exciting teams in the world to watch and won't fear anyone in the tournament. They have won the World Cup on two occasions, in 1997 and 2005. In the last two editions they have been beaten at the semi-final stage. 

The host nation South Africa must also be shown plenty of respect. They were beaten in the 2018 semi-finals by England, but have been in very good form in the past season. They won four sevens events in Dubai (twice), Malaga and Seville in the 2021-22 series to earn them top seeding heading into a World Cup on home turf. 

Australia can also never be discounted. Yet, to win the World Cup, they have been runners-up on two occasions and won the latest World Seven Series event in London. It would be no surprise to see an Aussie lifting the trophy. 

Punters should also take into account the results of the final World Sevens Series event in Los Angeles from 27-28 August before the World Cup. This will be the last competitive outing for the sides before the big tournament and should give a strong indication of how they are matching up.  

Find Me a Winner!

Although the odds haven't been released as yet for the tournament, Fiji look to be a very solid bet to go all the way this time and lift the trophy. No country is more fanatical about the game than the Fijians, and they will have been thinking about this tournament ever since winning the Olympics in Tokyo. 

Conclusion

Rugby World Cup Sevens betting adds an extra layer of engaging excitement to the tournament, but make sure you make informed betting decisions. You can enhance your betting experience when you properly understand the format of the tournament, do your research on the teams, keep up with news, and explore the betting markets option. Above all, remember that betting is a game of chance so make sure to practise responsible gambling.

References:

• Rugby World Cup Sevens