- New Zealand’s men’s rugby team has +225 odds to win the gold medal, tied with Fiji for shortest odds in the field.
- The women’s team is the -250 betting favorite to win gold, far ahead of any other country.
TOKYO – New Zealand is projected to have a big year in the 2021 Olympics, at least in rugby where both the men’s and women’s teams are the favorites to win the event.
In 2016, the women’s team won silver while the men’s team failed to place on the podium.
Will New Zealand Sweep The Rugby Events?
If the Olympic betting odds are accurate, New Zealand should be able to bring home at least one of the gold medals in the form of the women’s team.
Women’s Rugby 7s Odds
- New Zealand (W) -250
- Australia (W) +600
- Canada (W) +1000
- USA (W) +1000
- France (W) +1200
- Great Britain (W) +1400
- Russian Olympic Committee (W) +3300
- Fiji (W) +10000
- Japan (W) +15000
- China (W) +25000
- Kenya (W) +25000
- Brazil (W) +50000
The odds seem to indicate that not only are the Black Ferns far and away the best team but that there’s no true competitor. Australia, sitting at +600 odds, has the apparent next best chance to win but there is no other country with odds short of +1000.
If the women’s team were to lose it would surely be a significant upset considering they have won 16 of the 22 World Series tournaments.
"New Zealanders are extremely passionate about rugby sevens and we can't wait to watch both the men's and women's teams take to the field in Japan with the fern proudly displayed on their chests," said Kereyn Smith, CEO of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
The tougher ask could be from the men’s New Zealand team who also have the shortest odds, but this time those odds are shared with Fiji. In Rio, Fiji won the gold medal and will be looking to repeat as champions.
Meanwhile, the men’s team (the All Blacks) will be looking to improve as the team missed the podium in 2016. The All Blacks will return six players from the 2016 Olympic team.
Men’s Rugby 7s Odds
- Fiji (FJI) +225
- New Zealand (NZL) +225
- South Africa (RSA) +300
- USA (USA) +650
- Australia (AUS) +1000
- Great Britain (GBR) +1200
- Argentina (ARG) +4000
- Kenya (KEN) +5000
- Ireland (IRL) +6600
- Canada (CAN) +10000
- Japan (JPN) +25000
- South Korea (KOR) +50000
Those interested in betting on Rugby have a good opportunity to make some money with all countries having odds north of +200, and bettors may be best inclined to use multiple bets on both New Zealand and Fiji to secure a profit.
Whether New Zealand can sweep the rugby events remains to be seen, but being the favorites on both the men’s and women’s side is an accomplishment in itself.