Wales the One to Beat, Say Rugby Odds

Wales is shaping up as the team to beat in this year's Six Nations Rugby tournament, according to the current bookmakers' odds.

After completing a Grand Slam in the previous tournament, in which they beat all five of their opponents to claim the tournament, the Welsh are leading the odds at UK bookmakers to once again claim the title, with Ladbrokes quoting them at 5/2.

The annual tournament pits the northern hemisphere's six best rugby nations against each other, with each team only getting one chance against each of their opponents.

England, France and Ireland are considered the main challengers to the Welsh, all quoted at 11/4. Scotland, 25/1, and Italy, 66/1 will both need a miracle if they are to claim the crown.

Although favorite, Wales is strangely not considered the most likely to achieve another grand slam. Ireland leads the odds to actually win all five matches (in which case they would obviously win the tournament), at 11/2. England and France are both 13/2, and Wales 8/1.

The Six-Nations starts in February.

There are plenty of international fixtures still to come in preparation for the Six Nations and its southern hemisphere equivalent, the Tri-Nations (involving Australia, South Africa and New Zealand).

When it comes to friendlies against the stronger southern teams, the northerners find the odds pitted against them. Wales is 2.74 at UK-based Betfair to earn a home win against Australia, 1.5, while England is a long-shot 11.00 at home to New Zealand, 1.1.

The All Blacks are looking particularly unstoppable as they try to make amends for yet another shock early exit from the World Cup in 2007.