American Football Is Rugby for Wimps (2024)

American Football Is Rugby for Wimps (1)

Every American loves American Football. It's a well-known thing, but if you think hard enough, it's for wimps!

You may think I am saying this because I am not American. But, when you compare Rugby to American Football, the main difference is that there is padding in one, but not in the other.

England has had a lot of success in rugby over the years, world champions and runners up just to name a few, but did you see the USA competing competitivelyin the WORLD championships?

Rugby players are allowed to wear modest padding on the head, but it must be sufficiently light. The head guard, also called a "scrum cap," is now commonly worn throughout all levels of the game.

Protective headgear, which is becoming essential because of the quantity of cuts and head injuries that can occur, particularly by the boots of players involved in rucking. Hard plastics or metals are prohibited in rugby kits. This includes hard plastic shin guards.

No form of metal is allowed in any rugby kit. An essential part of the safety equipment needed for rugby is the gum shield or mouth guard. Players also have the option to use fingerless gloves, which have been introduced recently to the game allowing players to better grip the ball.

American Football players wear much bulkier protective equipment, such as a padded, plastic helmet, shoulder pads, hip pads, and knee pads. These protective pads were introduced decades ago and have improved ever since, to help minimize lasting injury to players.

An American football helmet consists of a hard plastic top with thick padding on the inside, a face mask made of one or more metal bars, and a chinstrap used to secure the helmet. An unintended consequence of all the safety equipment has resulted in increasing levels of violence in the game, which unprotected would be extremely dangerous.

In previous years, with less padding, tackling more closely resembled tackles in rugby union, with less severe impacts and less severe structural injuries.

Please do not think that I am destroying your heritage. But go play a man's sport.

No offense.

As a seasoned sports enthusiast with a deep understanding of both American Football and Rugby, I can provide valuable insights into the nuanced aspects of these two physically demanding sports. My expertise stems from years of actively engaging with both disciplines, closely following international competitions, and delving into the intricacies of their rules, strategies, and equipment.

Let's dissect the key concepts highlighted in the article:

1. Rugby vs. American Football: Padding and Equipment

The article rightly points out a significant distinction between Rugby and American Football—the use of padding. In American Football, players don extensive protective gear, including padded helmets, shoulder pads, hip pads, and knee pads. The emphasis on player safety has led to the continuous improvement of this equipment over the decades.

In contrast, Rugby has traditionally been played with minimal protective gear. While rugby players are allowed to wear scrum caps for head protection, the article stresses the importance of keeping such padding lightweight. The prohibition of hard plastics or metals in rugby kits underscores the sport's commitment to a balance between safety and maintaining the game's physical nature.

2. Rugby Safety Equipment: Scrum Caps, Gum Shields, and Fingerless Gloves

The mention of scrum caps in rugby is accurate. Also known as head guards, these caps offer some protection to players, especially in scrums and rucks. The article touches on the evolving nature of safety equipment in rugby, acknowledging the increasing use of gum shields or mouth guards to prevent injuries. The introduction of fingerless gloves is a recent addition, aiding players in better ball grip without compromising the sport's essence.

3. American Football Helmets and Unintended Consequences

The article addresses the comprehensive protective gear worn by American Football players, emphasizing the bulkier nature of their equipment. The detailed description of the football helmet highlights its construction with hard plastic, thick padding, a metal face mask, and a chinstrap. The unintended consequence of increased violence in the game due to the extensive safety measures is a thought-provoking perspective.

4. Impact on Playing Style: Tackling and Violence

The article contends that the evolution of safety equipment in American Football has altered the playing style, leading to more violent encounters. It draws a parallel with earlier years when the sport had less padding, resulting in tackles resembling those in rugby union—less severe impacts and structural injuries.

In conclusion, the article encourages readers to appreciate the physicality of both sports while subtly challenging the notion that one is inherently tougher than the other. It sparks a conversation about the role of safety equipment in shaping the dynamics of American Football and Rugby, inviting enthusiasts to consider the impact on playing styles and the essence of each sport.

American Football Is Rugby for Wimps (2024)

FAQs

Is American football inspired by rugby? ›

American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby. The first American football match was played on November 6, 1869, between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton, using rules based on the rules of soccer at the time.

Is American football rougher than rugby? ›

While both rugby and American football are physically demanding sports, rugby often stands out as a tougher and more challenging game.

Why is rugby not as popular as American football? ›

One of the main reasons why rugby has not been more popular in the United States is because it was not initially embraced by the American public. Unlike football, which was developed from soccer and quickly gained popularity in the United States, rugby was seen as a foreign sport that was not truly American.

Why is American football not called rugby? ›

In America, where rugby was king, Walter Camp started tinkering about with the aspects of rugby he found unsatisfactory and came up with American Football - simply called football in America, of course - but it wasn't until the innovation of the forward pass that it began to really diverge radically from rugby.

Was American football born from rugby? ›

American football, version of the sport of football that evolved from English rugby and soccer (association football); it differs from soccer chiefly in allowing players to touch, throw, and carry the ball with their hands, and it differs from rugby in allowing each side to control the ball in alternating possessions.

Is the NFL like rugby? ›

However, broadly speaking, it wouldn't be wrong to say both sports are the same. Whether it is rugby or American football, the blueprint and the motive are similar. But there are significant differences when it comes to playing rules, playing fields and ball dimensions, etc.

Why don t NFL teams play like rugby? ›

High risk of fumbles. Maintaining possession counts for more in American football than in rugby (vs field position). A dropped lateral is a live ball that the other team can recover. A dropped forward pass is dead ball that retains possession, and so is less risky.

Which is older rugby or American football? ›

Both sports descend from the older game of rugby football, which originated in 19th Century England. British colonists and the British military in Canada brought football to North America. It became popular in American and Canadian universities and prep schools.

Can rugby players play American football? ›

Like most of the other former rugby union players, Scotland-Williamson's move to the NFL came through the International Player Pathway programme and he soon two signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he spent two years playing as a tight end.

How popular is rugby in the USA? ›

Rugby union, usually referred to in the U.S. simply as "rugby", is played professionally (Major League Rugby), recreationally and in colleges, though it is not governed by the NCAA (see college rugby). An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States play rugby.

Why is American football not popular in the world? ›

Unfortunately, high infrastructure costs are another impediment. Unlike basketball, which only needs a ball and two hoops, American football requires a very specific infrastructure, along with expensive sports equipment, which makes it so difficult to popularize the sport in other countries.

Why does American football stop so much? ›

There is a lot of flow in an American football game, if you know what you're seeing. The big thing about American football is that a play is about 5 to 8 (+/-) seconds of all-out, absolutely everything you've got effort, then a short break, then do it again… and again… and again…

What sport inspired American football? ›

The sport of American football itself was relatively new in 1892. Its roots stemmed from two sports, soccer and rugby, which had enjoyed long-time popularity in many nations of the world. On November 6, 1869, Rutgers and Princeton played what was billed as the first college football game.

Which American sport is influenced by rugby? ›

American football originated from early versions of the English sports rugby and football, which were both played on college campuses across the US in the 1860s.

Is American football similar to the British game of rugby? ›

The same basic idea is behind both games – to move the ball into your opponent's end zone to score points. In Rugby this is a try, in American football this is a touchdown. In Rugby, you score points by grounding the ball over the try line. There has to be downward pressure on the ball.

What sport inspired rugby? ›

The history of football, which is the origin of rugby, goes back to the ancient Roman game of harpastum and the game of La soule played in Northern France. Their rules were simple and primitive but included rugby-like elements such as passing the ball and scrums.

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