Rugby vs American Football
It is easy to say that Rugby and American Football are similar games as they share the same origins, but there is a stark difference between the two that cannot be overlooked. At a glance, you might even have thought that both Rugby and American football are the same game. However, that is not so. Therefore, to understand the difference between Rugby and American football we should first have a general idea of the two games and then compare the two to see the differences. Therefore, this article presents you the definitions of each game and the differences between the two; Rugby and American Football.
What is Rugby?
Rugby, which is widely played around the world in Europe, Australia, Africa and even Asia is a very physical game. It can be known as a game that requires the skills in football, basketball, and American football. Rugby players have to run around the field until they can score a goal to the other team’s goal. They have to pass the ball effectively. Also, they have to engage in tackles sometimes as in American football to gain the ball from the opponent. To score in rugby games the players have to take the ball and place the ball down on the opposite team’s touch line. This is known as a try. Or else, a player can kick the ball between the goal posts.
What is American Football?
American football is a major and very popular game in US. It is played in US only. This is also a highly competitive game that requires a lot of physical strength. To score in an American football game, a player has to take the ball beyond the opponent’s touch line. This is known as a touchdown. A player can also kick it between the goal posts. That is known as a Field Goal.
What is the difference between Rugby and American Football?
Now, that we have a general idea about the two games, let us see these differences.
• American football is so called as it is mainly played in the US, whereas rugby is a sport that is played all over Europe, Australia, and Africa and even in Asia.
• While players wear a lot of heavy protective gear in American football, only modest padding on head and shoulders is allowed in rugby.
• In American football, unlimited substitution is allowed whereas, in rugby, only up to 7 substitutions are allowed.
• A team consists of 11 players in American football whereas 15 players make up a team in rugby.
• There is one umpire and 3 to 6 other referees in American football whereas in rugby, there are 3 umpires and a video referee.
• While the objective in both the games is to take the ball past the opponent’s goal, it is called a touchdown in American football but called a try in rugby.
• The size of the field in American football is 109.7 x 48.8 meters whereas it is 100 x 70 meters in rugby.
• There are four 15-minute gameplays with an interval after two quarters in American football whereas there are two 40 minute halves in rugby.
• The premier championship in American football is called National Football League (NFL) and, in rugby, there are two major championships called Rugby League and Rugby Union.
• The size of the ball, which is a spheroid in shape, is also different in the two sports. The American football is about 28 cm long and about 56 cm in circumference at the center. The rugby ball is approximately 27 cm long and 60 cm in circumference at its widest point.
Images Courtesy:
- Rugby by digiarnie (CC BY 2.0)
- American Football via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
In the U.S. we would not call the organization the “championship.” The NFL, or National Football League, is the primary professional organization. The championship is the Super Bowl, played at the end of the season. Just another example of how the English language is spoken in the U.S. versus how it’s spoken everywhere else 😀
The biggest difference is football has 4 downs, where you hike it to a quarterback who can make a forward pass, while in rugby, only laterals are allowed, and there are no downs (only dogpiles for the ball).
American Football may only be played in the US, but Canadian football, with 3 downs, 12 players and a longer field, is very similar. Both can be considered “Gridiron Football.” Gridiron in one form or another is played outside of North America, but is nowhere near as popular as other football codes. Besides the NFL, and the CFL (Canadian Football League) the game is popular at the high school and college levels.