I hear a lot of debate over "which is manlier, which is tougher" etc. and I want people's opinions.
I play both, and I think Rugby is tougher, but American Football hits a much harder.
In an average rugby game, you get 5 times as much, and you need to handle running, tackling, rucking, passing, kicking, basically you need to be able to do everything that is needed between every position in american football. Also rugby is tiring, where as all the stoppage in play in american football make it really easy on the cardio.
However, there is a reason we wear pads in american football. In rugby, you will never be hit in the back when your not moving or moving slowly. You will never be hit period in less you are tackling, being tackles, rucking or in the scrum. In football, defenders can smash blockers at any time, just because they are there. There are no requirements to wrap and bring to the ground on a tackle, and hits on someone who's head is turned, or are in midair, (like defenceless receivers in the NFL), are extremely rare.
Also, rugby players only look at football players' equipment as protection, but not many people see them as a weapon. Not many people know that helmets cause more concussions then stop them, because of helmets moving at high-speed smashing in to helmets that are not. It is an extra 10 pounds of hitting power.
Let the debate begin
I play both, and I think Rugby is tougher, but American Football hits a much harder.
In an average rugby game, you get 5 times as much, and you need to handle running, tackling, rucking, passing, kicking, basically you need to be able to do everything that is needed between every position in american football. Also rugby is tiring, where as all the stoppage in play in american football make it really easy on the cardio.
However, there is a reason we wear pads in american football. In rugby, you will never be hit in the back when your not moving or moving slowly. You will never be hit period in less you are tackling, being tackles, rucking or in the scrum. In football, defenders can smash blockers at any time, just because they are there. There are no requirements to wrap and bring to the ground on a tackle, and hits on someone who's head is turned, or are in midair, (like defenceless receivers in the NFL), are extremely rare.
Also, rugby players only look at football players' equipment as protection, but not many people see them as a weapon. Not many people know that helmets cause more concussions then stop them, because of helmets moving at high-speed smashing in to helmets that are not. It is an extra 10 pounds of hitting power.
Let the debate begin