Australian Rugby Union Places $217,500 Bet On Wallabies Winning RWC

The Australian Rugby Union "have put their money where their mouth is" by placing a six-figure bet on Australia to win the Rugby World Cup final, according to Jeremy Redmore of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. The ARU has bet A$300,000 ($217,500) on a Wallabies victory "to help cover the costs of players' potential win bonuses." All players in the 31-man squad stand to earn an A$107,000 ($72,500) bonus "if they come through against the All Blacks on Sunday, so the windfall from the bet would cover much of the risk of offering the payments." World Rugby prohibits connected parties from "placing bets directly through a bookmaker," so the ARU has avoided any violation by "wagering through an insurance company." An ARU spokesperson said, "We have an arrangement in place with [Rugby Union Players Association] around player bonuses for the Rugby World Cup, the details of which are in commercial confidence." Meanwhile, All Blacks players would each take home a NZ$150,000 ($102,000) bonus for winning the final (NZ HERALD, 10/27).