Your Guide to Betting on the United Rugby Championship (URC)

The United Rugby Championship (URC) is back, and for South African rugby fans, it’s become one of the most important competitions on the calendar. Featuring 16 teams from South Africa, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Italy, the URC isn’t just about regional bragging rights — it’s also a pathway into European competitions like the Heineken Champions Cup.

For South Africans, the URC has been huge: the Stormers lifted the trophy in 2022, and last year the Bulls went deep into the playoffs, while the Sharks and Lions showed glimpses of their growing strength. Looking at this season, the Stormers remain strong at home, the Bulls boast depth and power, while the Sharks will look to bounce back after an inconsistent run last year. But the Irish giants — particularly Leinster and Munster — are still the benchmark.

Sportingbet has a full menu of URC markets. Here’s how to read them, using the Stormers vs Scarlets clash as an example:

1. Handicap Betting

This levels the playing field by giving one side a points head start.

• Example: Scarlets +4.5 @ 1.91 means your bet wins if the Scarlets win or lose by 4 points or fewer.
  
  

• Stormers -4.5 @ 1.83 means they must win by 4 or more.
  

2. Match Winner (2-Way)

The simplest bet: who will win?

• Stormers 1.53 vs Scarlets 2.50. Stormers are the favourite, so this might be a good opportunity to bet on the handicap.

3. Halftime/Fulltime

Predict which team will be leading at halftime and fulltime.

• Example: Stormers/Stormers @ 4.60 means Stormers ahead at the break and goes on to win the match.
  

• Great for higher odds if you fancy a strong start-to-finish performance.
  

4. First Try Scorer

Back the player you think will score a try first.

Leolin Zas @ 10.00, Seabelo Senatla @ 11.00, Evan Roos @ 12.00.
For South African fans, Evan Roos is an interesting outsider pick if the Stormers click early.

• Stormers: Still one of SA’s most balanced sides, with home advantage in Cape Town a huge factor. Expect them to be playoff contenders again.
  

• Bulls: Powerful forwards and strong at Loftus — they could be the South African team to go deepest this season.
  

• Sharks: Last year was inconsistent, but with Springbok talent in the squad, they’re always dangerous.
  

• Lions: Developing side, less consistent, but capable of upsetting big names.
  

From the northern hemisphere, Leinster will again be the favourites — they topped the table last season but stumbled in the final. Munster can’t be underestimated after lifting the 2023 title.

The URC delivers drama week after week, with South African teams proving they can mix it with Europe’s best. Whether you’re betting on handicaps, margins, or first try scorers, the markets at Sportingbet give you plenty of ways to get in on the action.