- Leinster (-160) is a heavy favorite to capture its ninth United Rugby Championship in 2024-25
- Glasgow (+1400) is a longshot to repeat after defeating the Bulls (+550) in last year’s final
- Round 1 of the annual competition between pro teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales begins this Friday September 20
Leinster captured four straight Grand Finals between 2018 and 2021 but failed to win the title in each of the past three seasons. Favored to claim their fifth United Rugby Championship in eight years, the Irish club will have to fend off 16 teams, including the reigning champions from Glasgow.
Before we look at the URL futures for the 2024-25 campaign, check out the top Rugby Betting Sites in 2024 and get all our Rugby Betting picks.
United Rugby Championship
URC League Format
The United Rugby Championship enters its fourth season with 16 teams after expanding in 2021 to include four South African franchises. It also includes clubs from Italy, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, which has produced 13 champions and 13 runners-up in the competition’s 22-year history.
Teams are divided into four pools (Irish, Welsh, South African, and Italian & Scottish) with each squad facing the others in their group both at home and away. Additionally, each club plays the other 12 teams in the league once. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams move on to the playoffs with seeding determining home-field advantage.
⏳It’s almost time ⏳
The Passion.
The Rivalry.
The Drama.The @Vodacom URC #HitsDifferent pic.twitter.com/sgmhTHT0HA
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) September 17, 2024
Leinster favored
Leinster Rugby (-160) hasn’t won the United Rugby Championship since 2021 and they’ve placed runner-up in the Champions Cup in each of the past three years. However, the Irish club is URC royalty, having claimed eight titles in 23 years.
Loaded with homegrown studs such as Garry Ringrose, Cian Healy and Caelan Doris, as well as international signings from South Africa (RG Snyman), France (Rabah Slimani) and New Zealand (Jordie Barrett), no one has more talent than Leinster.
Other contenders
The Bulls (+550) gave up a 13-0 lead in last year’s URL final on their homefield to fall 21-16 to Glasgow. Before being upset, the club from Pretoria, South Africa had cruised through the regular season with a 13-0-5 record and toppled Leinster in the semifinals.
Munster (+550) topped the URL standings last year with a 13-1-4 record before being upset in the semifinals by the Warriors. Having missed out on becoming the first club other than Leinster to win back-to-back titles, the Irish side is a strong contender to win its fifth URL championship this season.
Rugby should MERGE union and league to save the game we all love, argues CHRIS FOY https://t.co/Ca9BeNJ6Af pic.twitter.com/m8K2fvZ6oR
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) September 15, 2024
Best Longshot
Glasgow (+1400) is available at long odds despite their upset-fueled championship run after placing fourth in the league table. After re-acquiring fly-half Adam Hastings, the Warriors are well positioned to win again.
See below the Best Offshore Sportsbooks for US Customers 2024 where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
