Who is tougher? NFL vs. Rugby (56k)

I've always wondered who would be tougher than who. NFL players with all their pads and protection or Rugby players who use minimal protection.

NFL players take hits more often and Rugby players less, such is the nature of their respective games. I've included some pics so people not familiar with the two sports can judge purely from looks.

P.S. Im not American and so rarely watch NFL but they seem "softer" than rugby players.

This is Paul O Connell who is an Irish lock and vice-captain. He was captain of the Lions on their most recent tour. One hard bastard.

Some nameless NFL Player(I'm not familiar with any to be honest)

I would reckon that most pro Rugby players would take most NFL players any day of the week, but thats just my opinion of course.

Whats yours?

NFL Players are usually heavier, but I'd say Rudby is the tougher sport to play.

No, just no. First off both sports have different types of hitting due to the pads being worn. Because Football players wear pads they are generally hit FAAAAR harder. Secondly there is no "average" football player to compare to. Different positions have different types of player body builds. A line man cannot be compared to a wide receiver. They all have their different positions and roles to fill and thus aren't physically identical. Personally, nothing in Rugby compares to the hardest hits seen in football. Because they wear pads they can hit you far harder than in Rugby. HoolaHoopMan

Okay, heres one.

Say you could develop a rugby/NFL hybrid sport and then pit rugby players against NFL players in a game that takes rules and customs from both sports so they are more or less on even ground.

Irish GAA and Australian football were mashed together to form International rules, so it could work.

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

[QUOTE="HoolaHoopMan"]No, just no. First off both sports have different types of hitting due to the pads being worn. Because Football players wear pads they are generally hit FAAAAR harder. Secondly there is no "average" football player to compare to. Different positions have different types of player body builds. A line man cannot be compared to a wide receiver. They all have their different positions and roles to fill and thus aren't physically identical. Personally, nothing in Rugby compares to the hardest hits seen in football. Because they wear pads they can hit you far harder than in Rugby. balfe1990

Okay, heres one.

Say you could develop a rugby/NFL hybrid sport and then pit rugby players against NFL players in a game that takes rules and customs from both sports so they are more or less on even ground.

Irish GAA and Australian football were mashed together to form International rules, so it could work.

NFL >>>> Rugby. The players hit harder, are faster, and I would go as far as to say tougher than Rugby players. Fuhgeddabouditt

Agreed. We'll gladly provide pads & helmets to the rugby guys, then let's scrimmage some American football. U.S. wins.:D

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

topsemag55

Actually it can compare quite favourably.

And also, if anyNFL player met Jonah Lomu(or most of the All Blacks, past and present) down an alley, there could only be one winner.

They are both tough sports.. Rugby is constant running and hitting with out pads.. American Football is set plays for explosive strength where far larger players hit.. They are both tough sports... The Rugby guys may not be as strong or as big as many of the players in the NFL, but not many of the players can go the distance in endurance that a Rugby game needs with out much rest.. Many of the offensive linemen would just die.sSubZerOo

True, NFL players get more breaks far more often.

And they wear crash helmets. :P

If a rugby player gets knocked unconscious but there is no sign of concussion, he'll be back out on the pitch in a matter of minutes

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]They are both tough sports.. Rugby is constant running and hitting with out pads.. American Football is set plays for explosive strength where far larger players hit.. They are both tough sports... The Rugby guys may not be as strong or as big as many of the players in the NFL, but not many of the players can go the distance in endurance that a Rugby game needs with out much rest.. Many of the offensive linemen would just die.balfe1990

True, NFL players get more breaks far more often.

And they wear crash helmets. :P

If a rugby player gets knocked unconscious but there is no sign of concussion, he'll be back out on the pitch in a matter of minutes

That must be pretty rare seeing as a head blow in those kind of sports that lead to loss of consciousness usually means they have a concussion.. That being said I honestly think hockey is the most brutal sport out there..

Ray Lewis has actually killed people.

InEMplease

Yeah but probably at long range with a gun amirite?

Nothing tough about that, Jonah Lomu would eat that gangster for breakfast.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="InEMplease"]

Ray Lewis has actually killed people.

InEMplease

Yeah but probably at long range with a gun amirite?

Nothing tough about that, Jonah Lomu would eat that gangster for breakfast.

"Following a Super Bowl XXXIV party in Atlanta on January 31, 2000, a fight broke out between Lewis and another group of people, resulting in the stabbing deaths of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar."

Mr. Lewis accepts the challenge.

Nah that just makes him a cold hearted killer who should probably be locked up.

Its really nothing to shout about.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="InEMplease"]

"Following a Super Bowl XXXIV party in Atlanta on January 31, 2000, a fight broke out between Lewis and another group of people, resulting in the stabbing deaths of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar."

Mr. Lewis accepts the challenge.

InEMplease

Nah that just makes him a cold hearted killer who should probably be locked up.

Its really nothing to shout about.

The court decided it's best for him to remain in the NFL and take his anger out on whichever poor soul runs in his direction. However, the NFL season is being extended to as many games as it takes to permanently injure Lewis.

The courts let him off murder because he's a NFL player?

I imagine a few brown paper envelopes were exchanged.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="InEMplease"]

The court decided it's best for him to remain in the NFL and take his anger out on whichever poor soul runs in his direction. However, the NFL season is being extended to as many games as it takes to permanently injure Lewis.

InEMplease

The courts let him off murder because he's a NFL player?

I imagine a few brown paper envelopes were exchanged.

He didn't actually kill the two guys, he was just there when it happened. :P

Oh so then he hasn't killed anyone?

So your initial post is void?

Jonah Lomu reigns supreme!

:P

I don't know much about NFL, and basically nothing about rugby, so I may be way off base here, but... Isn't there way more money in the NFL? As such, shouldn't the level of athleticism be higher? There's a great deal of competition to make it to the NFL level, and players who do make it have immense training budgets. They can get the best equipment and supplements and the best training and medical consultation.

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

topsemag55

Problem?

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="InEMplease"]

He didn't actually kill the two guys, he was just there when it happened. :P

InEMplease

Oh so then he hasn't killed anyone?

So your initial post is void?

Jonah Lomu reigns supreme!

:P

Aye, this is true.

Lewis has sexier arms though. 8)

God I can't argue there.

He wins (sexy) hands down.

:P

[QUOTE="CBR600-RR"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

kevin11896

Problem?

Oh what, a fellow Brit defending NFL? :roll:

Rugby is tougher.

Both hit like girls compared to NHL players.

Haha I was surprised to see Paul i meet him like every week and have served him dinner a few times where I work. He has to be the tallest man I've ever met

I don't know much about NFL, and basically nothing about rugby, so I may be way off base here, but... Isn't there way more money in the NFL? As such, shouldn't the level of athleticism be higher? There's a great deal of competition to make it to the NFL level, and players who do make it have immense training budgets. They can get the best equipment and supplements and the best training and medical consultation.

Palantas

You're right, there is silly money in the NFL. An Irish international outhalf called Ronan O' Gara (rugby) was once approached by a rep from Miami Dolphins and offered 500 grand a year just to take the kicks.he wouldn't even have had to join in regular play, just come on when they got a kick.

He was on around 100 grand at the time and playing at an international level but he turned it down.

Rugby players are paid considerably less but I think too much money actually detracts from the game. It becomes less about the sport and more about lining the players, managers and sponsors pockets.

Also, there are international competitions in Rugby and the sense of pride of playing for your particular counrty would have a greater motivational effect on your performance than any amount of cash ever could.

Haha I was surprised to see Paul i meet him like every week and have served him dinner a few times where I work. He has to be the tallest man I've ever met

gibson-les-rick

A fellow Irishman I see?

I've seen Paulie a few times at the Aviva and he is indeed a mountain of a man.

[QUOTE="gibson-les-rick"]

Haha I was surprised to see Paul i meet him like every week and have served him dinner a few times where I work. He has to be the tallest man I've ever met

balfe1990

A fellow Irishman I see?

I've seen Paulie a few times at the Aviva and he is indeed a mountain of a man.

Ya he's in my village sometimes. I'm from Clare and see alot of the Irish and Munster team regulary haha

i'm sorry after playing rugby all my school life and watching the last few nfl seasons on tv, i think rugby is much more physical, you not only need stamina but strength too. nfl players are tough no doubt, but i wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of this bad boy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8ctts9LOk&feature=related

who said rugby hits aren't hard because there not wearing pads...

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

CBR600-RR

Problem?

[QUOTE="CBR600-RR"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

Rugby can't compare. No one hits like the NFL.:D

HoolaHoopMan

Problem?

[QUOTE="HoolaHoopMan"]

[QUOTE="CBR600-RR"]

Problem?

-RocBoys9489-

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]They are both tough sports.. Rugby is constant running and hitting with out pads.. American Football is set plays for explosive strength where far larger players hit.. They are both tough sports... The Rugby guys may not be as strong or as big as many of the players in the NFL, but not many of the players can go the distance in endurance that a Rugby game needs with out much rest.. Many of the offensive linemen would just die.sSubZerOo

True, NFL players get more breaks far more often.

And they wear crash helmets. :P

If a rugby player gets knocked unconscious but there is no sign of concussion, he'll be back out on the pitch in a matter of minutes

That must be pretty rare seeing as a head blow in those kind of sports that lead to loss of consciousness usually means they have a concussion.. That being said I honestly think hockey is the most brutal sport out there..

Also this, imagine guys that weigh as much as football/rugby players hitting you at a speed of 54 kph.

[QUOTE="-RocBoys9489-"][QUOTE="HoolaHoopMan"] Not impressed in the slightest. The hardest football hits will always be more devastating simply because they hit harder. It's in the nature of how they tackle when you compare the two sports.

HoolaHoopMan

Neither one is tougher than the other... but NFL players do get hit harder. This is because they can make forward passes in the NFL. The hardest hits are the ones that you don't see coming.

When you are sprinting full speed and looking back behind you for a pass, then somebody is sprinting full speed towards you while you are looking backwards, you are going to get layed out HARD.

That doesn't happen in rugby.

Jamie Roberts played 20mins of a Lions game with a fractured skull.

If a player from each sport were transplanted in the other, I would say that the NFL player would probably get injured in the later stages of a game due to tiredness. A rugby player would probably be out of the game much sooner than that.

pads vs. no pads

It is pretty obvious which is rougher.

Tony Buckly is 6'5 215 pounds, meaning he would be a large SS in the NFL, one of the smallest positons on defense.

Brian Urlacher is 6'4 260, and he runs a 4.5 forty...

The biggest man in the NFL? I may be wrong, but I belive its Herman Johnson, at 6'7 390 pounds...

NFL players are bigger, faster and stronger... its not a fair fight...

pads vs. no pads

It is pretty obvious which is rougher.

foxhound_fox