Can 2023 Rugby World Cup contenders Ireland win the title?

Tony Reyes
By , Updated on: Dec 19, 2023 07:00 PM
Can 2023 Rugby World Cup contenders Ireland win the title?

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is approaching, and if the 2023 Six Nations competition was any indication, we are in for a thrilling Rugby World Cup this year.

Before we delve into the latest odds for 2023 Rugby World Cup futures, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention our rugby betting guide, which is filled with tons of advice on how to bet on rugby.

The 2023 Six Nations Winner

The 2023 Six Nations competition saw Ireland win its fourth Grand Slam as they defeated 14-man England in a close finale in Dublin.

 

This was Ireland's fifth Six Nations title following wins in 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2018. This victory also marked the fourth Grand Slam for Ireland, previously winning in 1948, 2009, and 2018.

Ireland is on a national record run of 14 wins at home. Andy Farrell's side set a new national record of eight straight Six Nations wins, surpassing the seven-game streak they set between 2004 and 2005.

2023 Rugby World Cup

• The Rugby World Cup will take place from September 8th to October 28th in France.

• The tournament will be held across 9 host cities: Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Saint-Étienne, Saint-Denis, and Toulouse.

• Twenty teams from around the world will compete.

• There are 48 matches in total.

• This will be the tenth men's Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Union World Cup 2023 OddsBetUSMyBookieBovada
New Zealand+250+325+325
England+550+500+500
South Africa+500+600+600
France+250+700+700
Australia+1000+1200+1200
Wales+2500+1700+1700
Ireland+500TBDTBD
Argentina+2500TBDTBD
Scotland+5000TBDTBD

Even with Ireland being the current number-one team they have had little success in tournaments. They will hope to reach their first World Cup final.

Ireland To win 2023 Rugby World Cup
+500
BetUS

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Contenders

The upcoming World Cup is expected to be extremely competitive. There will be several factors that determine which teams will be able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

It looks like several teams are favored to win with New Zealand and France having the best odds at +250. The odds indicate Ireland should have several challengers for the title.

Let's take a look at some of the leading contenders.

New Zealand

New Zealand usually has a lot of talent, experience, and skill, which is why the All-Blacks have won the tournament a record 3 times.

With that being said, the All Blacks enter this World Cup coming off a down season. They had their worst-ever World Cup ranking, dropping down to 5th last year.

New Zealand does look like one of the favorites, despite all the setbacks they've endured the past year, however, I'd pass on betting on New Zealand as these odds don't seem too favorable at +250.

New Zealand To win 2023 Rugby World Cup
+250
BetUS

France

France is tied with New Zealand for the best odds at +250 and it's easy to see why. They were unbeaten during the 2022 Six Nations competition.

They have some of the best players in the world, ending 2022 as number 1 in the World Cup ranking.

They will also have a home-field advantage for the Rugby World Cup. If they manage to win the trophy, it would be a remarkable accomplishment to achieve in front of their home fans.

France To win 2023 Rugby World Cup
+250
BetUS

England

England has the fourth-best odds at +550, and they usually perform well in major tournaments. Finishing second to Ireland in the Six Nations indicates they are a strong squad.

Regardless of their success in the Six Nations competition, I don't think they stand much of a chance at the Rugby World Cup. The competition looks fierce, so I would have to advise against betting on England in this field. 

Best Bet

As much as I would love to back Ireland fresh off their victorious Grand Slam and Six Nations title, I'm backing France.

Despite France losing to Ireland in the Six Nations competition, they did still finish in second place.

France seems like the best bet because of their experience and home-field advantage. Betting on France at +250 odds is the best bet for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Don't forget to check out our top sportsbook reviews, where you can see which sportsbook is best for you.

Meet the author

Tony Reyes

With years of experience as both a fan and analyst, Tony brings an expert voice to picks and predictions. His love of sports betting comes through in coverage that informs and entertains in equal measure. When not watching the games or covering them, you can find Tony s...

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