Top 20 Incredible Facts About Rugby You Didn't Know Before

Do you root for your favourite rugby league teams during the gameplay at telly time? Rebecca Martin reveals coveted rugby secrets, betting tips, and more! 

The sensational world of gambling is always on the move. Changing with the fast-paced times, the beloved sport takes great care always to step it up. It ensures that patrons and neophytes alike get the experience they desire. Betting is comparable to a form of art – the thrill of the stakes, the rush of the dice, the exhilaration of adrenaline, and voila! The winner takes it all.

Yes, rugby is truly one of those rare forms of entertainment that know just how to please everyone. Well, we have good news for you! In this piece, we are going to examine one of the most loved sports people all around the world come together to place their bets on.

If you love rugby and gambling, you are not alone. Do you want an in on the best rugby betting sites? Well, gambling expert Rebecca Martin has the scoop for you! Keep reading to know more! Here is where you can find the best rugby league betting sites available for fair play.

If you think history is boring, you will surely change your mind when you learn how the sport began in the first place! Before embarking on the wonderful journey of rugby, Rebecca Martin recommends starting with a brief but no less entertaining history of the sport. Let us begin with a concise yet brief chronology of how rugby came to be what it is in present times.

The beloved sport of rugby, the very darling of England, came into existence thanks to a schoolboy who refused to follow the rules. Various sources point to a particular moment in the 19th century when the beginnings of rugby arose in the actions of a naughty child who decided to play a game of catch differently.

In 1823, 16-year-old Willian Webb Ellis played an adaptable version of soccer with his friends at the Rugby School in England. The sport involved kicking the ball and catching the toy only when it was airborne. Whoever caught it would have to stand still in his spot and kick it. The rules were simple enough. 

Unbeknownst to him, his friends, or his masters, Ellis changed history forever when he decided to pick up the ball the boys were playing with and ran towards the goalkeeper with it. The benefit of this action was evident to the other students, who began to follow Ellis' example in no time. This story is widely touted as the first sport of rugby. Even the Rugby school paid homage to the legend of William Webb Ellis by erecting an official stone in honour of Ellis' exploits. The inscription reads as:

THIS STONE COMMEMORATES THE EXPLOIT OF WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS WHO, WITH A FINE DISREGARD FOR THE RULES OF FOOTBALL, AS PLAYED IN HIS TIME, FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT, THUS ORIGINATING THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE RUGBY GAME. AD 1823.

In 1871, 22 rugby clubs came together to form the Rugby Union to impose parity and fair play through a set of game rules. Twenty years later, clubs sprang up all over the country, celebrating and playing the newly formed sport of rugby. Influencing the formation of other games like basketball, rugby is now a source of unadulterated fun and intense enjoyment for all.

Let us break it down into three sections to clear up the following concepts about rugby:

You may have seen violent portrayals of rugby on television. However, what your telly screen fails to convey is the wonderful camaraderie culture of the sport. Let us take a look at some essential lessons rugby teaches:

• Respect: Respect is a huge part of rugby. Rugby culture does not tolerate disrespect from the players, coaches, or fans. Rugby lovers and players alike can happily boast that there have been no events that incite a riot among the fans or players. The players must be respectful of the referee and follow his decisions without question.

• Inclusion: The sport has seen many alterations and ups and downs since the 19th century. Since then, diversity has become a significant part of the beloved sport. There is a greater acceptance of fresh faces in terms of fans as well as teams. No language unites fans of the sport as much as rugby does. 

• Discipline: The main reason rugby became so popular is that it allowed boys to channel their testosterone-fueled aggression. Instead of expressing it unhealthy, the players can leave it all on the field and become much calmer and more focused. Rugby players can seamlessly socialize without their aggression hindering them. The intense discipline helps foster a sense of inner peace.

• Friendship: You will be hard-pressed to find better friends than those on the stands or those playing it. If you love the sport, you already have a major similarity with rugby fans and can make friends in no time. Moreover, after all the aggression is left behind in the game, players and fans alike make up with both teams and share drinks and laugh after the match. A true sense of camaraderie and fellowship pervading the sport and its fans.

• Sportsmanship: Professionalism and sportsmanship are part and parcel regarding rugby. Even though rugby is a  physically jarring contact sport, players must be professional and courteous towards each other. Opposing teams should have the common sense to behave decently and politely. No player can nor does dispute the call off the referee, who is a respected figure. There can be no name-calling or incendiary comments regarding other players or teams. Fans must treat both teams with the same level of respect.

Rugby does not play around when it comes to the rules of the game. The Rugby Union has set out many technicalities to ensure fair play. Let us look at some of the many rules and terminologies of rugby.

• The primary aim of rugby is to pick up the ball, outrun the opposing team members or pass the ball, and score by placing the ball on the ground over the opposing team's try line. 
• Teams must push the ball to the ground to score.
• Players must pass laterally or rearwards only.
• Players can carry the ball and run with it in whichever direction they want.
• Any hand is eligible to push the ball at any time.
• A lineout is called in when the ball goes out of play.
• A scrum forms when a player is dropped or passed forward.
• A ruck forms when the players are tackled to the ground.
• A maul will occur if any player is helped up in the tackle.
• To achieve points, you can attempt the following moves for points: 

Try – 5 points

Conversion – 2 points

Penalty Try – 5 points

Penalty Goal – 3 points

Drop Goal – 3 points

Rebecca Martin has compiled a list of rugby competitions:

• Rugby League World Cup – 1954
• Rugby League World Cup 9S – 2019
• Oceania Cup – 2019
• Wheelchair Rugby League Celtic Cup – 2003
• European Championship – 2000
• MEA (Middle East Africa) Championship – 2015
• Americas Championship – 2009
• Rugby League Four Nations – 2009
• Bilateral Test Matches – 1877

Now that you know various aspects of rugby, let us take a look at 20 facts about rugby that is not common knowledge:

1. While the integrity of the Ellis story is questionable, the sport did start and gain traction at Rugby School. The sport borrowed the school's name, and the trophy is known as the Webb Ellis Cup after William Webb Ellis.
2. Both international as well local matches took place in the 19th century. 
3. The first local match was played in 1863 between Richmond and Blackheath.
4. The first international rugby match took place in 1871 between Scotland and England.
5. Around 1892, there was a proposal that rugby players should be compensated for missing work hours. It did not pan out.
6. The popularity of rugby is impossible – it is the third most popular sport in England.
7. The largest crowd ever for a rugby match in England saw an astounding 82,000 attendees. 
8. England boasts the largest rugby stadium in the world, Twickenham.
9. Over 300,000 players represent more than 2000 rugby clubs.
10. The whistle that marks every Rugby World Cup has been present since 1905. This ancient whistle is named after the referee who used it in the New Zealand and England game, Gil Evans.
11. Rugby was not recognized as an official sport until 1995. 
12. The Rugby World Cup began quite recently – only in 1987.
13. The chance of dying while playing a game of rugby is low but never zero. One player died in 1871 during a practice game in Richmond. 
14. Rugby balls used to be made with pig bladders. The present ball is shaped like an oval because this shape enables players to catch, hold, and run with the ball.
15. Canada was the only team ever to receive two red cards in a match.
16. No team has ever been able to retain the Rugby World Cup.
17. The most successful rugby team in history is the All Blacks.
18. Rugby has seen great success in the United States as one of the fastest-growing sports.
19. The Calcutta Cup is made from melted-down silver rupees, the funds left over from the closure of the Calcutta Football Club. 
20. Rugby first entered the Olympics in 1900. #

Did you know?

As a rugby fan, you may be interested in peripheral products related to the sport. You can also customize products, such as custom pin badges, which makes things way more interesting than buying off-the-shelf items. The pin badges can be customized with your favorite player, club logo, or anything else you like. You can decorate your clothes and bags with the badges or give them away as gifts. You can show your support for your favorite player and the game by doing this.

Rebecca Martin talks about combining the two if you love gambling and rugby. And yes, the result is just as pleasurable as you would expect it to be. You canfind the best rugby league betting sitesthat are legal in the UK. Consider some important pointers before betting on your favourite rugby team.

1. Select a sportsbook that is just right for your requirements. Look at online sites to choose from loads of bookies who will offer you bets on rugby.
2. The next step is to take the time to understand rugby differences. Read up on the point system, the number of players, slight rule variations, no line out strategies, etc.  
3. Study the odds before you bet. 
4. The two primary types of betting in rugby are the outright bets and the half-time or full-time bets. You can choose to gamble your odds on the type of bet you feel is most favourable for your needs.
5. Betting on rugby is extremely entertaining. However, it can also put a strain on your bank account. Remember, cut your coat according to your cloth. You can set a predetermined limit to cap you off. You should exercise the limit to cut yourself off when you reach the limit.

Gambling on rugby comes with its set of highs and lows. Look beyond your favourites to the best rugby league teams for favourable odds. Gambling expert Rebecca Martin suggests understanding the various technicalities and rules of the game before you start betting on it.

When placing your bets on winning odds, you need to know how to set the game up in your favour. It is where gambling specialist Rebecca Martin comes to your aid. With years of experience in the gambling industry and all the technical nitty-gritty know-how on betting on her resume, Martin is the person you want in your corner. 

If you want to bet on the best England rugby league games, look at the blogs Rebecca Martin puts out for readers. You can glean a lot of information and tricks from Martin's long-term expertise in betting techniques.