Quote:
Originally Posted by Legbreaker
I'm certainly not suprised that the force of the rugby player was less. Afterall, they were really just lifting their oponent of the ground and putting them down again.
The gridiron player was putting his entire effort into slamming into the dummy with virtually no regard for avoiding injury due to the helmet and padding. He also gets to run off the field every few minutes and have a rest while the offensive team take over.
A rugby player is on the field for the entire game. Depending on which grade they're in, etc they might get lucky and the team gets to change maybe three players total throughout the game (40 minute halves if my memory serves). There are no breaks for television adds, there are no breaks for the change in teams, there are no time outs, it's a pure forty full minutes of smashing into each other over and over again.
Rugby league, a very similar game to rugby union is basically the same situation. Padding is minimal, a little on the shoulders and the occasional man might wear a head protection (a lighter version seen worn by amateur boxers).
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I have played and currently coach high school football here in the states, I have never played Rugby though I do appreciate the athletic talent needed to play.
In your post you stated it's 40 minutes of smashing into each other over and over again. Now as I have said I have never played and really never sat and watched an entire rugby game BUT I don't remember each player being slammed for a full 40 minutes, I remember seeing one guy with the ball getting slammed and a lot of others just chasing. During the "scrum" I believe, and again not trying to flame, I saw guys holding onto each other while the ball is up for grabs.
I have know kids who have gone on played both rugby in college and football in the States and they have told me that they thought american football was much tougher than Rugby.
I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer and I have friends in Australia who swear that Rugby is the toughest sport there is, and I respect there opinion. Either way, enjoy the sport of your choice!
Done because I don't want to get involved in a flame contest of which is better.