Rugby union fans, the hiatus is over. After the rush of the Rugby World Cup, it’s been a barren few months of international action, but that all ends this weekend. The 2024 Six Nations Championship kicks off this Friday, and it does so with a hiss and a roar.
The first Six Nations after a Rugby World Cup is always fascinating. With behemoths Ireland and France both suffering quarter-final disappointment, who will bounce back stronger this year? What about Wales and England, who both had surprisingly positive campaigns? Throw in a hard done by Scotland and the wildcard of Italy, and we have a brilliant competition on our hands over the next two months.
We look at the latest betting odds from bookmaker William Hill and outline the best bets to make on the 2024 Six Nations Championship ahead of the first match this weekend.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 31st, 10:30 P.M. (GMT)
This time last year Ireland was favoured to win the Six Nations, and did so, netting a Grand Slam as well. Now, however, France is the favourite in bookmaker William Hill’s betting odds—but only just. Les Blues come in at 2.00 to win the Six Nations, ahead of Ireland’s 2.75. As expected, it’s largely a two-horse race, with third-favourite England way back on 7.00. Odds drop off even further for Scotland, before entering outrageous territory with Wales’s 26.00 and Italy’s 251.00.
Odds to finish bottom are equally disproportionate. Italy is the heavy favourite in this market, paying 1.28 to claim the wooden spoon for a ninth year in a row. Wales is an outside chance at 5.00 as is Scotland on 11.00, before England pays 21.00 and the two big names, France and Ireland, are at a long 251.00 to come bottom.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 31st, 10:30 P.M. (GMT)
With plenty of retirements, sabbaticals and injuries, six very different squads shape up from the ones we saw take the pitch in late 2023. France is without Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, while England is Owen Farrell-less and Ireland is in their post-Sexton era. How will this all shake out? We say the deciding factor in this year’s Six Nations will be France playing at home.
France will have been bitterly disappointed to lose in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in front of a home crowd. Expect France to be motivated to make amends for this failure with their fans. With the big clash against Ireland coming this weekend at home, Les Blues should have the edge – particularly since their World Cup failure feels less drastic than Ireland’s. Back them to win the Six Nations at 2.00 and claim a Grand Slam as well for a return of 3.00.
Another great bet is backing Wales to have a better-than-expected campaign. We say the Welsh will finish third, with a handy 7.00 return on that bet. Sure, they initially stuttered under Warren Gatland’s leadership this time last year, but Wales was impressive in their unbeaten run through the World Cup pool stage recently.
Throw in the fact that the squad is nice and young, plus Gatland having had even more time to work his magic, and there are promising signs here. All it takes is Wales to pull off an upset in one of their five matches, plus either England to slip up against Scotland or Ireland to lose to England. If this happens, Wales should come third in this year’s Six Nations.
