‘Bachelor’ no more as Kiwi rugby resumes

After weeks of writing on topics like The Bachelor SA and various types of online betting games there has been some big news. New Zealand Rugby have announced a domestic tournament featuring their five Super Rugby teams. It starts on 13 June. The teams will play each other home and away over 10 weeks, meaning we have two games a weekend to look forward to.

It is not exactly Super Rugby, but is certainly better than nothing – and judging by my Twitter feed and WhatsApp groups, South African fans and punters are pretty excited about it.

World Sports Betting wasted no time in pricing up on what they are calling the New Zealand Conference, with the Crusaders on offer at 5/4, the Chiefs at 5/2, the Blues at 5/1, the Hurricanes at 11/2 and the Highlanders at 9/1.

The odds on matches for the opening weekend are also confirmed with the Highlanders at home to the Chiefs with the home team the underdogs at (+8.5) points, meaning if you back the Highlanders on the handicap they can lose the game, win the game or draw the game as long as they don’t lose by more than eight points.

The second match features the Blues against the Hurricanes and the Blues are marginal favourites at (-3.5), so need to win by four points or more.

The concept of watching rugby played in empty stadiums should not be new to those of us who have watched Blue Bulls games of late.

One thing I am going to battle to adjust to is the early starts because kickoffs range from 5am to 7am South African time.

As someone who is already battling to exercise in the three-hour window between 6am and 9am, getting up to watch the rugby will be easier said than done.

My motivation levels will be high, though, and if necessary I will sleep on the couch – a move already rubber-stamped by the head of the household.

Brent Graham is a sports betting blogger at

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