STAN JAMES PIP PUNTERS TO THE POST AS ENGLAND FALL JUST SHORT

26 October 2007

Gibraltar bookie Stan James pips the punters to the post as England fail in their bid to win the Rugby World Cup for the second successive tournament


Gibraltar-based bookmaker Stan James avoided taking its biggest hit in the company's history, as England's Rugby World Cup dream was finally ended on Saturday at the hands of South Africa.

Following Stan James’ offer to refund all single outright bets if a Home Nation lifted the cup, shrewd punters and loyal followers alike who took up the offer narrowly missed the chance to cash in, as England failed to make it two World Cups in a row.

CEO Peter Fisher said, "We’ve won the battle with our punters this time around, but it was a close-run thing. After the first South Africa game, I thought we were home and hosed to clear up on anyone backing England. But fair play, they came back and gave us a bit of a scare, to say the very least!"

Stan James were a best-priced 40/1 England on the eve of the tournament and were 66/1 for 2 weeks during September. Both prices were laid heavily, including a GBP 500 E/W bet at 40/1. Not only that, Stan James were offering refunds on all losing outright singles if a Home Nation won the trophy, meaning they wouldn't have kept a penny if Brian Ashton's side had retained the Web Ellis Trophy.

Some South African bookies were less fortunate, with at least three Rand 1 million bets paid out after the match to gamblers who had put up in excess of Rands 200 000 on the game, which was watched by tens of millions across the planet.

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