Glossary of Rugby Union Betting Terms

Accumulator bet - An accumulator bet is a single stake, betting on the outcome of four or more selections in different events, all of which must be correct in order to win the bet. The amount of money that you could win with an accumulator bet is substantial, but the odds of winning are low.

Ante-post - A bet that is made well in advance of the event taking place, e.g. betting on the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup in 2005.

Correct Score bet - This is a bet in which you predict the final score of a match. This is particularly difficult in Rugby Union due to the high scoring nature of the sport.

Double result forecast - This is a type of bet in which you nominate both the half time and full time results of a particular Rugby Union match. For example at half time the match will be a draw, and at full time the result will be away team win. Also known as half time/full time betting.

Each Way bet - An each way bet is a bet on a team or player to either win outright or be placed (e.g. to be one of the top three teams or players). You can, for example, bet on a team to either win or be placed in a Rugby Union event such as the World Cup, Heineken Cup, Powergen Cup or to win or be placed in a league, such as the Guinness Premiership or Celtic League. You can also bet, for example, on a player to either be the top scorer or one of the top three or four try scorers in a tournament.

First try scorer bet - Predict the first player to score a try in a Rugby Union match.

First point scorer bet - Predict the first player to score a point in a Rugby Union match (could be a penalty or a try).

Grand Slam - In Rugby Union terms a team completes the Grand Slam if it wins every game in the Six Nations tournament.

Guinness Premiership - Formerly the Courage League, the Allied Dunbar Premiership and the Zurich Premiership. This is England's top flight Rugby Union league.

Half Time/Full Time bet - Also known as a double result forecast. An attempt to predict both the half-time and full-time result (not the actual score, rather whether it's a win, a lose or a draw).

Heineken Cup - Annual rugby union club competition featuring the leading club sides from England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Italy.

Lions - Their full and correct title is the British and Irish Lions. Made from the best English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh players, the team assembles for tours every four years, but does not play in the World Cup.

Odds - Betting odds dictate much you will win if your bet is successful. They are related to the probability of the bet winning and are expressed as a ratio, e.g. if the odds are 2:1 and you bet with a £10 stake, then you would win £20 and also have your stake returned.

Powergen Cup - Has been known as the John Player Cup, the Pilkington Cup and the Tetley's Bitter Cup. It is now the English and Welsh Rugby Union knockout cup competition featuring twelve teams from the Guinness Premiership plus four regional Welsh clubs.

Six Nations - Annual tournament played in February and March. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy all compete for the trophy.

Spread Betting - A type of bet where a spread is quoted, i.e. a point's margin and you must predict whether the outcome will be above or below this spread.

Stake - Your stake is the amount that you bet on an event. If your bet is successful, your bet is returned to you together with your winnings.

Tri-Nations - An annual tournament between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Win-Draw-Win bet - Trying to predict whether a Rugby Union match will finish as a Home Win, a Draw or an Away Win.

Wooden Spoon - given to the last placed team in the Six Nations tournament.

World Cup - The world championship of Rugby Union. A tournament held once every four years in a different country each time. The 2007 World Cup will be held in France.