Welcome to rugby’s twilight zone — where the lineouts are loopy, the odds are long, and the plot twists would make even Rassie blink twice. Here are 10 outrageous, eyebrow-raising predictions for 2025, along with hypothetical betting odds (entirely for fun — no bookies were harmed in the making of this blog).
🇿🇦 1. Rassie Erasmus Named England Head Coach
🔢 Odds: 50/1
The ultimate betrayal? Rassie dons the white rose and starts tweeting in Queen’s English. Unlikely, but rugby has had weirder love stories than this.
🇫🇷 2. Lions Confirm a 2029 Tour to France
🔢 Odds: 8/1
It’s never happened — but it should. The buzz is real, the logic is sound, and the croissants await. The Lions vs Les Bleus? Oui, s’il vous plaît.
🥊 3. Italy Upsets South Africa in Pretoria (July 5, 2025)
🔢 Odds: 200/1
Why it’s wild: Italy are touring South Africa in July of 2025, playing two Tests—including one at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. A win in that cauldron would be one of the greatest shocks in recent rugby history, akin to Italy’s own upset over South Africa in 2016.
🧊 4. Argentina Wins the Rugby Championship
🔢 Odds: 33/1
The Pumas have come close in 2024. Now imagine them stringing together victories over the Boks, Wallabies and All Blacks in one campaign AGAIN! With a spine of hardened European-based stars, tactical precision, and a dash of chaos, Argentina lifting The Rugby Championship trophy would be one for the ages — and a warning shot before 2027.
🌪️ 5. The All Blacks Lose All Their Autumn Internationals
🔢 Odds: 66/1
France. England. Ireland. Wales. A full tour wipeout? It’s not impossible — especially if they’re in transition. The memes would be relentless.
💪 6. A Lock or Prop Wins World Rugby Player of the Year
🔢 Odds: 9/1
Imagine Eben Etzebeth, Tadhg Furlong, or Maro Itoje getting the glory instead of a flashy 10. Big men need love too — and a bit of footwork helps.
🌸 7. Japan Joins the Rugby Championship
🔢 Odds: 33/1
Asia meets SANZAAR? It’s been whispered for years. It would flip the tournament upside down and bring in TV rights galore. Don’t bet your house, but maybe your sushi budget?
🧎♂️ 8. Siya Kolisi Announces Test Retirement
🔢 Odds: 40/1
He’s already a legend. If he calls time in 2025, it’d be emotional… but not unthinkable. Two World Cups, a few injuries, and now the European circuit — he’s done his part.
🌍 9. South Africa Loses to Georgia or Portugal
🔢 Odds: Georgia to beat SA: 66/1; Portugal to beat SA: 500/1
The Boks famously played a one-off, Covid-era Test against Georgia in 2021, but it was incomplete due to outbreaks. Georgia’s pack is traditionally beastly, and a full-strength Lelos side won’t shy away from contact. If South Africa rotates too deep or underestimates them, a sucker punch could land out in Nelspruit at Mbombela Stadium.
As for Portugal? They turned heads at the 2023 World Cup, shocking Fiji and drawing with Georgia. Beating the world champions on South African soil would be the stuff of rugby folklore — think “Miracle of Brighton,” but in Bloemfontein. However, this is all still up in the air as another RUMOURED fixture between the Boks and Os Lobos remains that: a rumour.
🐓 10. France Win the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final Over England
🔢 Odds: 5/1
England have been the queens of the hill, but France are circling. One big performance at the hallowed Twickenham? C’est possible. Bring on the revolution.
🎯 Final Word
If any of these come true, we expect full credit. If two of them do — you better be sitting on a beach with a cocktail in one hand and a Hollywoodbets betting slip in the other.
