Huge halftime rugby bet ends in tears for punter

Someone has lost $94,000 on a huge halftime bet on today's rugby match between Wellington and North Harbour. Photo / File

Someone's long weekend is off to a shocker - losing a $94,000 bet on a rugby game.

The outrageous punt - paying just $1.25 for the win, for a potential profit of $23,500 - was placed three minutes before half-time on this afternoon's provincial championship semifinal between Wellington and North Harbour.

On home turf, Wellington were up 18-13 when the bet was laid - backing Wellington to win and qualify for the final.

However, much to the gambler's despair, North Harbour pulled off the comeback.

Winning 40-37, Harbour were sent into raptures after reaching their first final in 22 years. But the punter won't be in the mood for celebrating.

TAB bookie Mark Stafford said the punter's loss was "hefty" and both the timing and weight of the bet were highly unusual.

"That's a hefty loss. We have more people betting, but don't tend to get those big bets anymore," Stafford said.

"I can't recall a bigger half-time bet than that. I would have been paying less than it would at kick-off because Wellington were leading.

"I always thought Harbour would win this game, I said so on TV last night."

It's not the only massive rugby bet which could end in tears today either.

One Kiwi punter has a hundred thousand reasons for the All Blacks to rewrite the record books tonight - and remain unbeaten for 2016.

A whopping $100,000 bet was slapped on the All Blacks at the start of the season - paying $1.50 - for the back-to-back world champions to not lose a game all year.

The All Blacks aim to set a new world record unbeaten streak of 18 straight wins at Eden Park tonight against the Wallabies. Then it's just the end of year tour which separates Steve Hansen's team from a clean sweep of 2016.

And for one man, that means fives games stand between him and a $150,000 payday - or a $100,000 loss.