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

pads vs. no pads

It is pretty obvious which is rougher.

foxhound_fox

NFL = passing Rugby = no forward passing The hardest hits in the NFL come from a guy sprinting and looking behind him for a pass coming. Then the guy in front of him sprinting right at him and laying him out as he jumps in the air to catch the ball. Plastic shoulder pads and a helmet isn't going to stop you from getting a concussion and other injuries like bruised lungs or ribs.

BMD004

Remember the NFL used to not have the pads they had. Injuries were much more common. The pads come out of necessity because of the force of the hits they take.

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

balfe1990

I highly doubt that Rugby players are as clean as you think.

[QUOTE="BMD004"] NFL = passing Rugby = no forward passing The hardest hits in the NFL come from a guy sprinting and looking behind him for a pass coming. Then the guy in front of him sprinting right at him and laying him out as he jumps in the air to catch the ball. Plastic shoulder pads and a helmet isn't going to stop you from getting a concussion and other injuries like bruised lungs or ribs.

foxhound_fox

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

balfe1990

[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.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

Wasdie

I highly doubt that Rugby players are as clean as you think.

Well they must hide it very well and use someone else's piss when a test rolls around because you rarely hear of anyone being caught.

I'm not as naive to think that they're squeaky clean, I just get the impression it isn't as rampant.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

BMD004

NFL players are tested at random, about a dozen times a season. The NFL has a very long list of banned substances, including any substance that can mask steriod use(like the infamous STARCAPS case)

However, the NFL does urine tests only, and does not test for HGH...

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

balfe1990

I highly doubt that Rugby players are as clean as you think.

Well they must hide it very well and use someone else's piss when a test rolls around because you rarely hear of anyone being caught.

I'm not as naive to think that they're squeaky clean, I just get the impression it isn't as rampant.

This man (dick butkus) > any rugby player ever

He was 6'3 250 pounds of flat out beastliness

[QUOTE="BMD004"][QUOTE="balfe1990"]

There is also far greater abuse of controlled substances in NFL aswell. Things like steroids are taken routinely.

The strongest thing you'll find in rugby is creatine with the obvious odd exception.

NATURALLY, Rugby players are tougher.

heysharpshooter

NFL players are tested at random, about a dozen times a season. The NFL has a very long list of banned substances, including any substance that can mask steriod use(like the infamous STARCAPS case)

However, the NFL does urine tests only, and does not test for HGH...

Peeps saying NFL has bigger hits than Rugby... Know what you're talking about. :P

This man (dick butkus) > any rugby player ever

He was 6'3 250 pounds of flat out beastliness

imaps3fanboy

Did you know that players on other teams used to take out "Butkus Insurance" before they played the Bears, in case he ended their careers...

And then there are guys like John Lynch, Ronnie Lott, Rey Lewis... NFL players are litterally weapons of mass destruction...

i'll tell ya right now that if you took an NFL linebacker and had him tackle the s*** out of a rugby player, the rugby player might die.

needled24-7

Andrew Sheridan - Benches 250kgs and has a deadlift of 310.

BRING IT ON:evil:

Peeps saying NFL has bigger hits than Rugby... Know what you're talking about. :P

Ninja-Hippo

Considering NFL players are often much larger and faster then rugby players, those are not that bad...

Speed is more important than size when it comes to large impacts... and NFL players are much, much faster...

[QUOTE="needled24-7"]

i'll tell ya right now that if you took an NFL linebacker and had him tackle the s*** out of a rugby player, the rugby player might die.

balfe1990

Andrew Sheridan - Benches 250kgs and has a deadlift of 310.

BRING IT ON:evil:

How big is he? Like size... and please move dont use metric... whats the translation on that?

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"]

This man (dick butkus) > any rugby player ever

He was 6'3 250 pounds of flat out beastliness

heysharpshooter

Did you know that players on other teams used to take out "Butkus Insurance" before they played the Bears, in case he ended their careers...

And then there are guys like John Lynch, Ronnie Lott, Rey Lewis... NFL players are litterally weapons of mass destruction...

Yeah, teams said they had more injuries against the bears than any other team, mainly because of Butkus

[QUOTE="needled24-7"]

i'll tell ya right now that if you took an NFL linebacker and had him tackle the s*** out of a rugby player, the rugby player might die.

balfe1990

Andrew Sheridan - Benches 250kgs and has a deadlift of 310.

BRING IT ON:evil:

Hi, my name is Vernon Gholston

Hi, my name is Mario Williams

Hi, my name is Vernon Gholston

BMD004

Kind of a bad choice... hes the biggest defensive bust since Mamula...

[QUOTE="BMD004"]

Hi, my name is Vernon Gholston

heysharpshooter

Kind of a bad choice... hes the biggest defensive bust since Mamula...

The poll result says it all but i think we need some input from those in New Zealand/Australia because this is very heavily American occupied forum.

pads vs. no pads

It is pretty obvious which is rougher.

foxhound_fox

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"]

Peeps saying NFL has bigger hits than Rugby... Know what you're talking about. :P

heysharpshooter

Considering NFL players are often much larger and faster then rugby players, those are not that bad...

Speed is more important than size when it comes to large impacts... and NFL players are much, much faster...

Hahaha and if THIS guy played rugby, it wouldn't even be fair for the other team

GIFSoup

GIFSoup

Peeps saying NFL has bigger hits than Rugby... Know what you're talking about. :P

Ninja-Hippo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2u1VAS85is&feature=related

Football has the edge in pure hitting (although I'd argue that has more to do with padding and rules than the players themselves), but overall rugby is without a doubt the tougher sport.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="needled24-7"]

i'll tell ya right now that if you took an NFL linebacker and had him tackle the s*** out of a rugby player, the rugby player might die.

heysharpshooter

Andrew Sheridan - Benches 250kgs and has a deadlift of 310.

BRING IT ON:evil:

How big is he? Like size... and please move dont use metric... whats the translation on that?

He's 6'4. 250 kgs = 550 pounds. He weighs in at 19 stone.

He would be able to literally tear me in half. And to BMD004 in the post below, yes that does in fact mean he can hit hard and take hard hits, I've seen it with my own eyes.

[QUOTE="InEMplease"]

Ray Lewis has actually killed people.

balfe1990

Yeah but probably at long range with a gun amirite?

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

Dawq902

Despite the current standings in the poll, I think this thread is dominated by Yanks. We need moar Ozzies and Kiwis to even this out :P

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

[QUOTE="Dawq902"]

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

imaps3fanboy

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"][QUOTE="Dawq902"]

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"][QUOTE="Dawq902"]

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

balfe1990

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"][QUOTE="Dawq902"]

The hits in the NFL are way harder but the lack of protection in Rugby makes them more prone to injury. Basically even if you want to get technical.

balfe1990

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"] Do people get paralyzed and break their necks in rugby a lot?imaps3fanboy

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

I'm not sure I get what you mean. You're saying once a NFL player retires(at say 33), he only goes on to live for another 20 years on average?

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"] Do people get paralyzed and break their necks in rugby a lot?F1_2004

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

Excellent point, forgot to mention that. I'd love to see how a NLF player got on in a ruck without their liberal padding.

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"][QUOTE="balfe1990"]

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

I'm not sure I get what you mean. You're saying once a NFL player retires(at say 33), he only goes on to live for another 20 years on average?

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"] Do people get paralyzed and break their necks in rugby a lot?imaps3fanboy

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

probably considerably more. Its not an issue of how hard people get hit (and Rugby is far, far more dangerous as far as sports go). Its the fact that Football players are built unaturally, they tend to be much heavier then rugby players (because speed is key in Rugby) and the body can simply not handle that kind of weight.

Rugby tends to be extreamly bloody though, its pretty common to catch a game where half the players end up with bloody and bruised faces.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"] Do people get paralyzed and break their necks in rugby a lot?imaps3fanboy

Far too often. The scrum is one of the most dangerous things you can do in any sport.

I have a friend whose cousin was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed. He only died recently. Google Stuart Mangan.

[QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"]

Peeps saying NFL has bigger hits than Rugby...Know what you're talking about. :P

Ninja-Hippo

Considering NFL players are often much larger and faster then rugby players, those are not that bad...

Speed is more important than size when it comes to large impacts... and NFL players are much, much faster...

No, they are generally bigger and faster.

This is Adrian Peterson. He's jacked, and he runs a 4.4 forty yard dash.

This is Mario Williams. He's 6'6" and 295 pounds (133.809 kg). He runs a 4.66 forty yard dash. That is blazing fast for somebody his size.

This is Julius Peppers. He is 6'7" and 283 pounds (128.366 kg). Runs a forty yard dash in 4.5 seconds. Amazingly fast for somebody his size. Also has a 37.5 inch vertical jump. That is insane.

And I can go on and on. I don't think you understand the caliber of athlete that is competing in the NFL. They are a ungodly fast, agile, and athletic for how big they are.

It is a lot easier for a football player to integrate themselves into rugby than it is for a rugby player to start playing football.

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="imaps3fanboy"] Whats the avg lifespan of a pro rugby player, the avg lifespan for an NFL player is around 53Dawq902

I'm not sure I get what you mean. You're saying once a NFL player retires(at say 33), he only goes on to live for another 20 years on average?

Yes, thank you for clarifying that, I just thought it was a strange question.

Rugby players would live out a normal lifespan I would think but I don't see what that proves.