Rugby vs. American Football

#1
Axion Jaxion

Axion Jaxion

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#1
So, I was having an argument with a mental invalid from New Zealand who was telling me that "america football isn't a rough sport and the players aren't tough because they wear pads." So, I promptly told him that if American football players wore no pads, people would literally die. I also told him that NFL players aren't exactly 5'11 170 lbs., and how would you like to see this roaring at you with no pads:
261258456_07675b5f15.jpg


So I told him American football is the boss.

Discuss.
 
#3
#3
I've played both. It's a bit unfair because he's from New Zealand where their football players are the guys who couldn't cut it for rugby, and it's the opposite for here. But I would take Ray Lewis, Shawne Merriman, John Henderson as my forwards and Bush, Ronnie Brown, Chris Johnson, and Steven Jackson as my backs(just to name a few) and I'm pretty sure if they knew what was going on, they could beat the All Blacks.
 
#5
#5
A guy I used to work for was from South Africa and used to be a Rugby coach. He was (obviously) obsessed with the sport. He also enjoys American Football and would readily admit that American Football is a rougher sport and that there are more injuries in it because of the pads. As in the football players believe they are indestructible because of the pads, where as the rugby players know how to hold back.
 
#6
#6
Football is an impact sport
Rugby is a contact sport
so you cant properly compare them

best way i've ever seen it described.
Ive had the arguement with rugby players and regardless of the outcome after playing both i hurt the next day after both.

As for players..if your making a rugby team out of purely football players, everyone should come from the defense as everyone needs to be good at tackling, so backs would be DBs then your pack LBs/lineman.
 
#8
#8
I'ts a question of physics. People are not hitting each other at the same velocity in rugby. Sure, it's a tough sport, but...
 
#10
#10
I know a few rugby players - and almost got talked into joining a team here in ATL.

There are really only 3 things you can expect from playing rugby:

1. You try it, hate it, and never play again.
2. You try it, love it, get hurt immediately, and never play again.
3. You try it, love it, play for years until you eventually get hurt, and never play again.

All the dudes I know who play are incredibly proud of the fact that they are rugby players; almost annoyingly so.

I've seen guys with near broken necks, shot knees, and facial reconstruction from playing years of rugby.

It's harder to compare the two than you think, but here's what I say:

Athletes/Skills : Football
Toughness: Rugby

Me? I'll stick to ice hockey.
 
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#11
#11
SWIL said:
I know a few rugby players - and almost got talked into joining a team here in ATL.

There are really only 3 things you can expect from playing rugby:

1. You try it, hate it, and never play again.
2. You try it, love it, get hurt immediately, and never play again.
3. You try it, love it, play for years until you eventually get hurt, and never play again.

All the dudes I know who play are incredibly proud of the fact that they are rugby players; almost annoyingly so.

I've seen guys with near broken necks, shot knees, and facial reconstruction from playing years of rugby.

It's harder to compare the two than you think, but here's what I say:

Athletes/Skills : Football
Toughness: Rugby

Me? I'll stick to ice hockey.
Click to expand...

Option 2 for me. I was ready to play for the college team in my Sr year of HS, but my knee couldn't take anymore punishment.
 
#12
#12
I played a few games when I was stationed overseas...the first time I practiced with them I tried tackling like I did when I played ILB in high school...big mistake. I am decent size guy, and after a few plays I was beat to hell. After learning the technique required it wasn't bad, but it ran into intramural softball season, and I can drink more beer playing softball, so that was that.
 
#13
#13
dickens821 said:
A guy I used to work for was from South Africa and used to be a Rugby coach. He was (obviously) obsessed with the sport. He also enjoys American Football and would readily admit that American Football is a rougher sport and that there are more injuries in it because of the pads. As in the football players believe they are indestructible because of the pads, where as the rugby players know how to hold back.
Click to expand...

Having played both, I agree 100% with that quote. When I was playing LB, you are taught to make hits that would seriously injure yourself or the person being hit without pads on. That said, there is no well defined line on how far to go before you get injured, it's more a freak occurrence. The guys who play rugby for more than one season do so because they know the line between aggression and injury without pads.
 
#14
#14
I've actually been watching rugby via ESPN 360 and I must say, I'm starting to really enjoy it. Once I figured out what was going on, I started to like watching. I don't keep up with it religiously or anything but I pull it up every now and then. Plus I already like it better than soccer.
 
#15
#15
i always explained how football split from rugby in the early days as:

over the years football became a more dynamic game with dedicated skill positions where players became stronger and faster over the years due to their specific discipline rather than the "hot potato" style of rugby.football player could get by with no or little padding in the old days because of the parity of all the players
 
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