Rugby vs American Football: Which is the tougher contact sport and why?

In 19th-century England, the game of rugby was born, which bore similarities to modern-day soccer. British colonists and the military brought the game to North America, where the natives tweaked the rules, excluding the power and adding entertainment. American football came into being over time. All deviations require intense physical aggression, but which of them is the tougher contact sport and why?

With the shared ancestry of the two sports, there are bound to be some similarities and differences between them. Deciding which sport is more brutal is attributed to power, strength, agility, endurance, speed, nerve, durability and coordination. This article explores the nature of both sports.

Rugby vs American football

In both sports, two competing teams attempt to advance an oval ball down a field to the opposing team's score line or kick it over goalposts. The team not possessing the ball defends by tackling the player with the ball or snatching it. The main differences between the two are the number of players, the field and equipment used, game action, how the ball can be advanced, and the number of points awarded for various ways of scoring.

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Differences between rugby and American football

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Football

Similarities between rugby and American football

Both are intense contact sports on a rectangular field with an oval-shaped ball. Both sports feature defensive physical collisions, where players stop opposing ball carriers with a tackle. Offensive teams strive to get the ball into the opposition's end of the field and over a line to score a goal. Completing this scoring move earns the team points in a touchdown or a try. A player can then score further points for their team by kicking the ball through posts in both sports.

Rules differentiating rugby and American football

The popularity of rugby and American football

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Athletics

The Rugby World Cup is enjoyed worldwide, with prominence in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Europe. As the name suggests, American football is popular in the Americas, that is, the US and Canada. Over time, gridiron has gained worldwide fans, especially during the NFL Super Bowl.

Which is better, rugby or American football?

Practically, only one cross-sport game is recorded to have been played between Jacksonville Axemen (rugby) and the Jacksonville Knights (football) on 1 August 2009. The Knights won the first half, played using football rules, and the Axemen evened the score in the second half, which was played using rugby rules. The game ended with the Axemen beating the Knights 38-27.

While this score may illustrate rugby players to be better than American football players, determining which sport is better requires more parameters than a cross-code game can offer.

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Which is more challenging, rugby or American football?

Both are tough, uncompromising sports producing breathtaking displays of athleticism. Players must undergo endurance training to get into the physical form required for the intensity and aggression of the sports. According to ESPN's classification, rugby is the thirteenth most brutal sport. Football is ranked third!

Which is a tougher contact sport between rugby and American football?

According to ESPN's classification of the most brutal sports, football is ranked third, while rugby is thirteenth. Cricket is not a contact sport. Players wear safety helmets and gear that protect them from the ball, which is made from cork.

In summary, spectators who prefer flashy attacks all over the field will appreciate rugby. However, in American football, the physical preparation and tactical component come first. In this essence, rugby is perhaps the tougher contact sport.

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