Three Best Bets for the URC: Top Picks and a 70/1 Longshot
Image Credit: Stefano Delfrate
The countdown to a new United Rugby Championship season is well underway. It was a fantastic competition last year. We saw the Glasgow Warriors pull off two incredible back-to-back away wins to secure the title. The league seems competitive again, as many teams will feel they can lift the trophy.
Best Bet: Leinster
When looking at the best overall squads in the URC, Leinster, without a doubt, is the best. The Irish province is one of the best club sides in the world. Full of seasoned internationals, Leinster is always going to enter the year as the team to beat. Key players for the side are Gary Ringrose, James Lowe, and Andrew Porter. Looking at Leinster on paper, you feel they should dominate all opposition. Now more than ever, thanks to the deal to bring Jodie Barrett to Ireland, which sent shockwaves around the rugby world, their incredible depth and cerebral coaching make them the favorite to lift the title at the end of the season. The Leo Cullen-led team goes into the competition at 4/7, which means you would get a decent return if they went all the way.
Value Bet: Glasgow Warriors
Even though they won the competition last season, there are still big odds on Glasgow this year at 14/1. The Warriors fought hard to lift the trophy in the 2023/24 season, traveling to Munster and South Africa in the playoffs. Like Leinster, Glasgow has many great internationals on their team. Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, and Kyle Steyn all play club rugby for the Warriors.
Furthermore, they have brought back Adam Hastings from Gloucester, who should immediately impact the team. They have a great head coach in Franco Smith, who has shown he can get the best out of his players. Glasgow will be looking to go back-to-back and capture a second title in a row next year.
Longshot Bet: Benetton
Benetton has slowly been improving year after year for the last few seasons. It very much resembles the journey the national side is on. The club formerly known as Treviso made it to the playoffs last season and gave the Bulls a real challenge in South Africa. What was very impressive about the team last year was their home record, as visiting teams always struggled going to Treviso. The Italian club has many great players, but their centre partnership stands out, with Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello as their best players. Additionally, Benetton has brought in two stars from the English Premiership, Louis Lynagh and Matt Gallagher, who will impact the club. The two players bring a lot of quality, which could make Benetton a title contender. However, if you want to back them, you must love a long shot, as they come into the season with 70/1 odds.
It will be interesting to see how the season plays out, as there are a lot of teams that could win it.
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