Many people generally tend to mix rugby and American football without actually realizing these are two different sports. While at first sight there are indeed numerous similarities between the two, the reality is actually that they differ on so many levels. We are just going to discuss these distinctions in this article, aiming to explain them in the simplest fashion.
The number of players
Let’s start with the number of players who are allowed to be on the pitch at the same time. In rugby, each team has 15 players on the ground in a game. Moving forward, the outfits are allowed to make a maximum of seven substitutions in one match. Once a certain player leaves the game, he does not have the right to return. You will recognize this rule in soccer where substitutions work in the same fashion.
The principle is hugely different in American football, as explained by John Pentin who works as rugby betting tips expert at newjerseysafebetting.com. The similarity between American football and soccer is that both sports allow for 11 players to be on the pitch at the same time for each team. However, in American football, we must differentiate between offensive and defensive lineups, as well as special teams. While Cristiano Ronaldo stays on the pitch while his team defends in soccer, Tom Brady is not there while his team are defending in American football. Rugby is much closer to soccer in regards to this rule.
The main goal of the game
This is where American football and rugby are very similar. In both sports, you score points by carrying the ball behind the rivaling touch line. The difference is that in American football you are only required to bring the ball behind the line to score a touchdown and earn six points. In rugby, you need to carry the ball behind the touch line and place it down on the floor to secure the points.
Scoring systems
In both sports, there are four possible ways to score points. When an NFL player scores a touchdown, his team earn six points. A player can do so either by catching a pass from a quarterback in the end zone or by running into the red zone with a ball in his hands.
Now, on top of the regular six points, American football teams have a chance to add one or two more points to every successful touchdown. They choose either of the two point-conversions (the one-point conversion is much more common because it is much easier to score it).
The third way to score points is through a field goal. A successful field goal attempt is worth three points. Teams usually go for it on the last downs when they are on the opponents’ half. Finally, there is a safety that grants the teams’ defensive lines a chance to earn two points by tackling rivaling attackers in their own end zone.
In rugby, a successful carry behind the opponents’ touch line is called a try. A successful try is worth five points. Teams then have a free kick that grants them a chance to add two extra points on top of tries. To do so, they need to kick the ball between the top bar on the goal and the upper posts.
Moving forward, rugby teams can also get three points when their counterparts cause an infringement. Finally, teams can claim three points for a drop goal as well.
Duration of a Game
This is a significant distinction between the two sports. Rugby is, again, much more similar to soccer in this regard. Rugby matches are divided into two halves, each lasting 40 minutes. In soccer, the halves last 45 minutes. However, it is important to note that there is no stoppage time in rugby. The match finishes with the last play happening exactly when you see 80 minutes on the clock.
In American football, however, we have four quarters of 15 minutes, totaling 60 minutes of play. There is a two-minute break between each quarter and a 15-minute rest between the second and the third quarter (half-time).
Field & protective equipment
Rugby fields are longer and wider than American football courts. In rugby, the court is 120 meters long and 70 meters wide, while American football has dimensions of 109.73 in length and 48.66 in width. When it comes to protective equipment, American football players are much more protected by wearing a helmet, a gum shield, leg protectors, and shoulder and chest pads. Out of these, only gum shields are required for rugby players.
Knowing that rugby players generally tend to make more tackles per match compared to American football athletes, we have reasons to consider rugby a stronger and the tougher of the two sports.
Popularity
Rugby is much more spread across the globe, but American football brings more money to the table in the United States, being the most popular sport there. While American football is played in countries outside of the USA, its popularity, volume, and quality are nowhere near to be matched with the one played on American soil. As you probably know, Super Bowl (the NFL final) is the biggest sports event in the world. No rugby match can come even close to the importance of the Super Bowl.
On the other side, rugby is much more popular in the southern hemisphere. It is the national sport in the countries like New Zealand, Fiji, or Tonga, while the Australians also consider it one of the most popular sports in their nation. We must not forget the Six Nations competition which confirms the popularity of rugby in European countries, including England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy.
The sports are very similar yet so unique in their own ways. Despite all the similarities, we can easily understand why a rugby fan does not find American football appealing and vice versa. However, there are always those true sports aficionados who do find the best from both worlds and enjoy watching both the NFL playoffs and the Six Nations tournament. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preferences and the choice is always all yours.
