blogs.smithsonianmag.com— Rugby players are trained gentlemen. Swearing is forbidden during practice, joking around is curtailed by the coaches, and players don't perform sometimes classless celebrations after scores
Jan 31, 2012View in Crawl 4
By that logic, tennis is a tougher sport than rugby. Those matches can last up to 6 hours, and you're running throughout the entirety of it.
You see how stupid that sounds? That's not an indication of a tougher sport. Why not mention the iron man? You've gotta do a hell of a lot more running in that in addition to swimming and bike riding.
I guess you have to define what you mean by tough. If a massive, strong football player doesn't have the stamina to keep up for six hours, then at least in one sense, they're not as tough as a tennis player who can.
you are talking about endurance not toughness
i don't see anyone tackling the tennis players. and they get breaks between matches and can drink whenever they want
I have played both and rugby is overall a tougher sport to play. Having said that, football players are much more massive and they are extremely strong. Due to the increased aerobic nature of rugby, players do not become as massive as in football which is designed for plays lasting 10 seconds at most and then a 30 second break. I have had some rugby sequences last as long as 3-4 minutes before a stoppage in play.
But, if you put them in a match, say a fight for instance, the rugby players wouldn't last long at all. The football/NFL players are built for quick plays, quick hits. They're larger and much stronger.
My friend's sister has a metal plate in her head and her cheekbone from injuries sustained in rugby matches and she still plays. For most football players, a metal plate would be career ending.
The collisions in football are far more violent. The padding adds to a sense of invincibility and they don't hold back at all. While ruggers are tough, they don't hit each other nearly as violently as football players do. Have you seen how fast they get going in the NFL on a kick off? They are running TOWARDS each other at full speed. I'd get on a rugby field any day before I took a kick off return back in the NFL.
Let's put pads on a rugger and send him over the middle for a pass that the QB leaves him hanging on just a bit and let him meet Mr. Ray Lewis. You tell me who would win that.
thank you! people dont seem to understand the kind of hits football players take and deliver. While it is true football players wear pads and helmets but when was the last time you saw a rugby player take a full on head to the chest hit? forget linebackers for a minute and think about the speed at which corners come at you thats some scary stuff.
There is no doubt that football players are bigger and faster. The games are designed for different types of athletes. I've played both sports. Ruggers play with much more reckless abandon than football players ever do. It's not a question necessarily who can hit harder in a given impact. Rugby players sustain more devastating hits, punches to the face, and boots to the ribs in a game than some football players take in a season and love every Saturday for it.
biofriendlyblogJan 31, 2012
From everything I've seen/heard, I have to go with rugby players.
bobosmitorJan 31, 2012
If you have to run non-stop for 80 minutes, then you must be tougher.
rufiohoJan 31, 2012
and have very little pads
jbkmdxFeb 1, 2012
By that logic, tennis is a tougher sport than rugby. Those matches can last up to 6 hours, and you're running throughout the entirety of it.
You see how stupid that sounds? That's not an indication of a tougher sport. Why not mention the iron man? You've gotta do a hell of a lot more running in that in addition to swimming and bike riding.
pinkfish411Feb 1, 2012
I guess you have to define what you mean by tough. If a massive, strong football player doesn't have the stamina to keep up for six hours, then at least in one sense, they're not as tough as a tennis player who can.
huangismFeb 3, 2012
you are talking about endurance not toughness
i don't see anyone tackling the tennis players. and they get breaks between matches and can drink whenever they want
BluntzworthJan 31, 2012
I have played both and rugby is overall a tougher sport to play. Having said that, football players are much more massive and they are extremely strong. Due to the increased aerobic nature of rugby, players do not become as massive as in football which is designed for plays lasting 10 seconds at most and then a 30 second break. I have had some rugby sequences last as long as 3-4 minutes before a stoppage in play.
PuckDoctorsJan 31, 2012
RUGBY
casspaJan 31, 2012
Tougher: Rugby
But, if you put them in a match, say a fight for instance, the rugby players wouldn't last long at all. The football/NFL players are built for quick plays, quick hits. They're larger and much stronger.
shenerdJan 31, 2012
My friend's sister has a metal plate in her head and her cheekbone from injuries sustained in rugby matches and she still plays. For most football players, a metal plate would be career ending.
FrankLuskaJan 31, 2012
Rugby
macbookformeJan 31, 2012
Seconded
giuuFeb 1, 2012
At least both sports aren't full of pussies like Soccer.
craig1958Feb 1, 2012
Are we talking about real football, or american football?
spider_manFeb 1, 2012
Yes.
crashdvisFeb 1, 2012
The collisions in football are far more violent. The padding adds to a sense of invincibility and they don't hold back at all. While ruggers are tough, they don't hit each other nearly as violently as football players do. Have you seen how fast they get going in the NFL on a kick off? They are running TOWARDS each other at full speed. I'd get on a rugby field any day before I took a kick off return back in the NFL.
Let's put pads on a rugger and send him over the middle for a pass that the QB leaves him hanging on just a bit and let him meet Mr. Ray Lewis. You tell me who would win that.
Closed AccountFeb 1, 2012
or james harrison..they've both dished out some hard hits in their careers.
hipcareFeb 1, 2012
Rubgy players definitely.
eastversewestFeb 1, 2012
Hockey!!!
gkiltzFeb 1, 2012
This matters BECAUSE????
ellterrificodrFeb 1, 2012
Rugby is way tougher but American Football is still more interesting!
crashdvisFeb 1, 2012
How many ruggers are dying young from concussion related problems later in life? It's an epidemic in the NFL. Check out this hit on Trent Green:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIrzOrPUfX4
This hit damn near turned him in to a vegetable!Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
freedom74Feb 1, 2012
thank you! people dont seem to understand the kind of hits football players take and deliver. While it is true football players wear pads and helmets but when was the last time you saw a rugby player take a full on head to the chest hit? forget linebackers for a minute and think about the speed at which corners come at you thats some scary stuff.
StonnaFeb 1, 2012
Yeah Champ Bailey would truck any rugby player. Football is tougher rugby just looks like its worse
souththailandguideFeb 2, 2012
Rugby !!!
anfieldtalkFeb 1, 2012
This argument will never end. Clearly a world Rugby 11 v Football 11 is called for?
jeworldFeb 1, 2012
I have a friend whose brother plays Rugby. He said he comes home bruised and bloody all the time
jmoe80Feb 1, 2012
There is no doubt that football players are bigger and faster. The games are designed for different types of athletes. I've played both sports. Ruggers play with much more reckless abandon than football players ever do. It's not a question necessarily who can hit harder in a given impact. Rugby players sustain more devastating hits, punches to the face, and boots to the ribs in a game than some football players take in a season and love every Saturday for it.