ARU's $300k punt on Wallabies' Cup win; By Jeremy Redmore; NZ Herald

Australian Rugby have put their money where their mouth is by placing a six-figure bet on their side to win the Rugby World Cup final.

According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, the ARU have bet $A300,000 ($NZ321,000) on a Wallabies victory to help cover the costs of players' potential win bonuses.

All players in the 31-man squad stand to earn a $A100,000 ($NZ107,000) 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 have avoided any violation by wagering through an insurance company.

"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," an ARU spokesman told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"This arrangement is not inconsistent with what we've had in place for previous World Cups."

Meanwhile, All Blacks players would each take home a $150,000 bonus for winning the final. If New Zealand lose the final and take home the silver medal, their bonus will dip to $35,000 for each player.

 I don't like the sound of this even if an insurance company has been used as a third party. Gambling should be kept away from our sport completely.

 I for one do bet on sport such as soccer, rugby, tennis and horse racing if u can call that a sport.
But I do not think that Rugby Associations should be allowed to place bets on a game with money collected from either sponsors and/or gate money. Or place a bet period.
Unfortunately in this professional sport cycle everything goes it appears.

There is already so much as stake in these sports, I think this should be outlawed.  I would like to know more about this as it is only one article in one news paper so who knows what slant has been put on this. BUT I never thought I would see the day when I would even read such an article.

 300K well spent I say! LMFAO, go NZ!

It has been happening for a while. Other teams do it as well. It is deemed as insurance to cover bonus payments so is acceptable. The ARUs insurance company places the bet. Its not like Cheika walks down the TAB with 300k and lays it down. This was done before the WC started so they should have got good odds.

 You normally insures against loss or a risk. Since when is winning a RWC a risk or liability to be insured? Idiocy of the highest order.

 Its a risk when you are paying a 100k bonus to each player. 3 million odd would do me for a risk worth insuring against. Economic sense.

 It makes things look a bit suss though dunnit ?Not realy kosher if you ask me .

 No it would be suss if the ARU bet on the All Blacks.

 Maybe the ARUshould try putting  that money into some junior scholarships or something ,it will definitely pay off .As opposed to gifting the top of the heap who get plenty in any case.But typical of the ARU and their top- down view of rugby.

 Wardad the ABs get 150k each if they win. The Wallabies winning the WC would give rugby in this country a bigger boost than anything the ARU could buy.

Can fully understand the Aussies having a punt, its in their DNA .

 bet you $100 it isn't in out DNA blobok

 Betcha it is ! Now wheres a coupla flies crawling up a wall .........

 I think the French got 200k each just for reaching the final in 2011 .Figures dunnit .