Our TopBets, rugby experts will provide you with the latest rugby predictions on rugby from across the globe. The emphasis will be on the major leagues like the United Rugby Championship (URC), Super Rugby and of course our very own local Currie Cup. You can be assured all the big rugby this weekend will be previewed on this page.
Rugby Predictions SATURDAY 03 OCTOBER 2026
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Lions vs Ospreys: Home team(-12.5)1.90
Tip 1: Lions to win by 13 points or more
Reason for the tip: The Lions return to Ellis Park with confidence after opening their United Rugby Championship campaign with a dramatic 27-26 victory over defending champions Leinster. Francke Horn captains a physical pack featuring JC Pretorius, Siba Qoma and experienced lock Etienne Oosthuizen, while Chris Smith and Nico Steyn form the half-back combination. Boeta Chamberlain provides creativity from full-back, with Richard Kriel offering another attacking threat in midfield. The Lions also have considerable quality on their bench, where returning Springboks Morne van den Berg and Quan Horn could provide a major second-half boost.
Ospreys face another demanding South African assignment after beginning their campaign with a 41-24 defeat against the Sharks in Durban. Head coach Mark Jones has responded by making 12 personnel changes, with Wales international Dan Edwards starting at fly-half alongside Kieran Hardy. Co-captains Liam Wright and Keelan Giles provide leadership, while Morgan Morse and Harri Deaves give the visitors mobility among the loose forwards. Ospreys should provide a strong physical challenge, but the Lions’ home advantage, confidence and powerful replacement options could prove decisive as the match enters its closing stages therefore I am backing the home side to win and cover the -12.5 handicap.
Sharks vs Leinster: Home team(-4.5)1.90
Tip 2: Sharks to win and cover the -4.5 handicap
Reason for the tip: The Sharks return to Kings Park full of confidence after opening their URC campaign with an impressive 41-24 bonus-point victory over Ospreys. Andre Esterhuizen returns to captain a powerful side featuring Springboks Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Edwill van der Merwe and Jaden Hendrikse. Phepsi Buthelezi and Manu Tshituka provide mobility in the loose forwards, while the bench looks particularly formidable with Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth available. With home advantage and considerable physical strength, the Sharks have the resources to place Leinster under sustained pressure.
Leinster will be determined to respond after beginning their title defence with a narrow 27-26 defeat against the Lions in Johannesburg. Rónan Kelleher captains a side containing experienced internationals Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier, Ryan Baird and Robbie Henshaw, while Fintan Gunne will look to build on his impressive opening-round performance. Caspar Gabriel continues at fly-half, with Sam Prendergast providing another option from the bench. Leinster possess enough quality to challenge throughout, but the Sharks’ powerful pack, strong replacement forwards and home advantage could ultimately give the Durban side the decisive edge therefore I am backing them to win by 5 points or more.
Munster vs Bulls: Away team(+3.5)1.90
Tip 3: Bulls to cover the +3.5 handicap
Reason for the tip: Munster will be determined to respond after opening their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 26-20 home defeat against Glasgow Warriors. Craig Casey returns to captain a much-changed side, partnering young Charlie O’Shea at half-back, while Shane Daly and Tom Ahern strengthen the starting lineup. John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson and Seán Edogbo form an energetic back row capable of challenging the Bulls at the breakdown. Munster also have valuable experience among the replacements, with Gavin Coombes, JJ Hanrahan and Jeremy Loughman providing important options for the closing stages at Thomond Park.
The Bulls arrive in Limerick with confidence after beginning their campaign with an emphatic 47-13 bonus-point victory over Zebre Parma. Captain Marcell Coetzee leads an unchanged starting forward pack alongside Hanro Liebenberg and Jeandre Rudolph, giving the visitors considerable physical strength. Curwin Bosch continues at fly-half, while Thaakir Abrahams and Sebastian de Klerk provide pace out wide. The Bulls also have an experienced bench featuring Nizaam Carr, Paul de Wet and Willie le Roux. Munster’s home advantage should make this considerably tougher, but the Bulls possess enough power and attacking quality to challenge throughout therefore I am backing them to cover the +3.5 handicap.
Rugby Handicap Betting
Handicap Betting Tips for Today
Glasgow Warriors vs Ulster: Home team(-14.5)1.90
Reason for tip: Glasgow Warriors return to Scotstoun with confidence after beginning their United Rugby Championship campaign with an impressive 26-20 bonus-point victory away to Munster. Stafford McDowall captains a strong lineup, with Sione Tuipulotu returning at inside centre and combining with dangerous backs Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe and Jamie Dobie. George Horne and Dan Lancaster continue their half-back partnership, while Matt Fagerson provides experience in the back row. Glasgow also possess an excellent bench, with Scotland internationals Scott Cummings and Rory Darge offering considerable quality and physicality during the second half.
Ulster will be looking for a response after suffering an opening-round defeat against Edinburgh, despite producing a much stronger performance during the latter stages of that contest. Tom Stewart captains the visitors from hooker, while Jacob Stockdale brings experience and attacking threat at full-back in his 150th appearance for the province. David McCann and Cormac Izuchukwu strengthen the pack, with Jack Murphy and Matthew Devine controlling play at half-back. Ulster have dangerous options across their backline, but Glasgow’s confidence, home advantage and powerful replacement forwards could ultimately prove difficult to overcome at Scotstoun.I am backing the hosts to win and cover the -14.5 handicap.
Dragons vs Scarlets: Home team(W) 1.61
Reason for tip: The Dragons return to Rodney Parade looking for their first United Rugby Championship victory after opening the season with a 19-19 draw away to Benetton. Ben Carter returns to captain a powerful pack featuring experienced forwards Elliot Dee, Seb Davies, Thomas Young and Shane Lewis-Hughes. Rhodri Williams makes his 150th Dragons appearance and partners Tinus de Beer at half-back, while Rio Dyer provides genuine pace out wide. With a strong forward platform and home advantage, the Dragons should have enough physicality and attacking quality to make this Welsh derby extremely competitive.
Scarlets travel to Newport searching for their first victory after suffering a 21-15 home defeat against Cardiff in the opening round. Sam Costelow returns at fly-half and partners Dane Blacker, while captain Josh Macleod leads a mobile back row alongside Dan Davis and Osian Williams. Ryan Elias and Sam Lousi provide experience up front, with Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Macs Page offering plenty of attacking threat. Scarlets have a strong bench featuring Gareth Davies, Joe Hawkins and Johnny Williams, but overcoming a motivated Dragons side at Rodney Parade should present a difficult challenge therefore I am backing the home side to come away with a narrow victory.
Gloucester vs Harlequins: Home team(-11.5)1.85 odds
Reason for tip: Gloucester return to Kingsholm in confident mood after opening their PREM campaign with an impressive bonus-point victory away to Exeter Chiefs. Captain Dewi Lake leads a powerful forward pack containing Val Rapava-Ruskin, Afo Fasogbon, Jean Kleyn and Jac Morgan, giving the hosts plenty of strength at the set piece and breakdown. Charlie Atkinson controls proceedings at fly-half, while Seb Atkinson and Will Joseph form an exciting midfield combination. With Ollie Thorley and Ben Loader providing pace out wide, Gloucester have a balanced side capable of maintaining their winning start.
Harlequins travel to Kingsholm looking for their first PREM victory after beginning the season with a home defeat against Bath. George Furbank makes his first PREM start for Quins at full-back, adding experience to a backline featuring captain Cadan Murley and Oscar Beard. Will Evans and Jack Kenningham provide breakdown quality, while Chandler Cunningham-South and Tyrone Green offer significant impact from the bench. Harlequins certainly possess enough attacking quality to challenge, but Gloucester’s strong opening performance, powerful forward pack and home advantage could give the Cherry and Whites the edge. I am backing the Cherry and Whites to come away with the win by 12 points or more.
Rugby fixtures this weekend
Accumulator of the Day
- Lions vs Ospreys-Home win
- Dragons vs Scarlets-Home win
- Sharks vs Leinster-Home win
- Glasgow Warriors vs Ulster-Home win
- Munster vs Bulls-Away win
- Castres vs Toulouse-Home win
- Waikato vs Tasman-Away win
- Bordeaux vs Lyon-Home win
Rugby Results Yesterday
- Australia vs Springboks-Away win❌
- Leicester Tigers vs Saracens-Away win✅
- Toulouse vs Montpellier-Home win✅
- Wellington vs Waikato-Away win✅
- Hawkes Bay vs Taranaki-Home win❌
Rugby tomorrow
- Montpellier vs Toulon
- Saracens vs Sale Sharks
- Taranaki vs Wellington
- Bay of Plenty vs North Harbour
- Spain(W) vs South Africa(W)
Understanding Rugby Betting
It is crucial that players understand the different types of rugby betting. If a player places a wager on a handicap bet with fully understanding it, he could think they won the bet but instead they lost the bet as they did not understand how it works. Our rugby predictions will give you the option of the three way bet or the handicap betting as our previews will focus on this.
Different types of Rugby bets
Match Winner
The most self-explanatory of bets to take on a rugby match. This is the most common and oldest type of rugby bet in which you select Team A or Team B to win. The odds on this type of bet may be low especially if your team is the favourite.
Draw No Bet
The draw is quite rare in Rugby Union, but it does happen from time to time. If you’re worried about the draw messing up your bet then take a Draw No Bet market. Your bet will be refunded if the match result ends in a draw.
Handicap Betting
The most popular bets on rugby are handicap bets. This is often where some of the best value is to be found. The handicap is an advantage that bookmakers give one team to make the game more balanced. The team given the positive handicap can win, draw or lose the game by less than the handicap to cover the bet and win. The team with the negative handicap must win the match by more than the points set out in the handicap to win their bet.
Total points over/under
The over/under betting market involves predicting whether the total number of points scored in a match will be above or lower than a certain predetermined number. For instance, if you bet on the over/under 50 points market and you bet on under, the combined score of the two teams shouldn’t exceed 50.
First Try Scorer
Rugby fans know the excitement that comes when a player breaks through the defence to score the first try. Betting on the first-try scorer is about predicting which player from either team will cross the try line first. This bet type carries higher odds as it’s challenging to predict, making potential payouts more lucrative.
Anytime Try Scorer
Less specific than the first-try scorer bet, the anytime try scorer wager involves picking a player you believe will score a try at any point during the match. The odds are typically lower than for the first-try scorer but offer a better chance of a payout.
FAQs
1 How long is a game of rugby?
A game of rugby is 80 minutes
2. How many players are there on a rugby team?
There are 15 players a side except in Rugby 7s where there are 5 players a side.
3. Where to watch rugby live?
Most of the rugby matches in South Africa can be watched live on Supersport. Betting sites like Betway and WSB offer live streaming on selected matches.
4. How to stream live rugby in South Africa for free?
Rugby Pass offers free streaming of selected matches.
