Years ago, I watched a Rugby player's UA-cam channel who played for New Zealand. He got invited to practice with an NFL team for a week. He said he had never been hit so hard in his life, and it was just practice.
Thx...I just posted the same...when I played college football in Texas, getting a concussion was nothing...those NFL hits are 3 times harder than college football was
Every time someone says "but they have pads" I want to see them strap on the pads and take a few hits then come back and talk about how much better the pads make it. In any event, I think the whole conversation of which sport is "tougher" is fairly pointless. The obvious answer is "neither", followed closely by "have you ever watched bull riding?"
There was a NFL linebacker named Dhani Jones. He had a show on the history or travel channel don’t remember what one called Dhani Jones tackles the globe. He went to different countries and tried other countries and cultures favorite sport. He would spend a week or two learning the sport and culture and then try it in a event. He went to the UK and did rugby and played in a game. He actually did quite well actually. The rugby team asked him what was harder and he said NFL was harder, maybe worth it to find the episode and check it out.
Here is my argument for football. The stop and go nature of American Football allows for Sprint Speed from both players in opposite directions. When you are running at constant like Rugby or Soccer you do sprint but your point of collision is going to happen at lower speeds in general. American Football Players are expected to get to top speed within the first 10 yards. Then you add the fact that the average Size of players are dramatically bigger. you have Defensive linemen that are 330lbs that can run as fast as anyone on the field especially when taking the correct angle to the tackle. I would say that you need to change your mindset on endurance and to think more about anaerobic endurance. Think of having to do several sprints in a row. Then getting a time to recoup. Then go to do more sprints. Here is a pad argument that you don't normally talk about. We know that the average tackle in football has higher force. Just because you protect your bones with pads doesn't mean that your internal organs are not getting the concussive force on your bodies/ organs.
ESPN sports science calculated a rugby hit at 2200 Lbs per sq inch, NFL hit at 4800 Lbs per sq inch . Sensors on real people being tackled. Rugby players more indurance, NFL players more explosive speed to power . Both are tough 💪
To me, what makes games like soccer and rugby less interesting is the fact that it is more endurance based. Watching Usain Bolt is way more exciting to me than watching a marathon. American Football is explosive, fast, high finesse, and requires tremendous strategic knowledge and awareness. The average NFL team has about 4,000 different offensive plays, with around 6,000 variations of those. The whole team learns the code language for each of those calls. The QB can make a call change at the last second before snap because he sees an opportunity in how the defense lined up, yells out the command, and with military precision, the carnage kicks off at sprint speeds. This will probably make a lot of non-Americans mad... but NFL requires the same levels of athleticism as Rugby or Soccer, it just also requires a fair amount of strategic intelligence. Rugby + Sprinting/Shotput type explosive atheleticism + Chess = American Football. Rugby and soccer by comparison seems rather cognitively mundane, just great cardio and core strength. Yes, I realize those are fighting words for many reading this. Deal with it. =P
Now what I really want to see is Baseball VS Cricket at it's highest level. I have a feeling that Baseball players would dominate international cricket with some training. ESPN did a poll a decade or so ago where they breakdown the hardest sports. Baseball had the highest eye/ hand coordination. There is nothing in sports harder than trying to hit a major league pitcher.
@@Shuganuttz They feel everything... which is why they aren't as reckless. Football players will slam into each other with zero regard for their wellbeing. Also, they're wearing hard plastic, not bubble wrap. Running into the other person dressed like that is going to hurt them.
Agreed, that the burst of speed and power in US football is something that is required to play at the top level, but I also believe the average fitness level for a player in rugby is higher on the cardio end of the scale. US football is a series of sprints and rugby is a marathon. You just don’t see 300lb guys playing rugby. I liked the 8 man/running back analogy. BTW I’ve played both US football and rugby in organized sports.
@@kabirconsiders yeah and having to run for 80 minute matches they’d have to hit softer later in the rugby match because of fatigue…but having that conditioning would be harder to upkeep than the nfl…
Watch 6 minutes of rugby,then 15 minutes, then a game or two. American football is a much different sport, which is tougher? AF average career is around 4 years long and the incentive to play is much higher. Rugby is a piece of cake comparatively,rarely do rugby players achieve top speed and get opposed at top speed.
The reason why helmets and pads are required now is because of the high fatality rate American Football had in the early days. Originally, it was essentially Rugby and gradually evolved into what it is now with rules additions and the slow adoption of safety equipment.
They’ve already done this on sports science back in the day with actual scientific data. The power generated from hits in football is on another level simply because of the forward pass. There will never be a situation in rugby where two players are running full speed into each other in opposite directions
Had a friend that played rugby for years. Tried out for football. Permanently injured his back and got a concussion first game. Said the pads were like paper when considering the force of the blows and that it legitimately felt like the other team was out to kill him. That they were like gladiators fighting to the death more than players in a game. So thinking about which is tougher, I’d say AFL. It’s more explosive and violent. Rugby is a longer game and probably uses up more endurance during play.
The best NFL team can play the best rugby team in a match, and the NFL's best football team, would any of the best world-wide rugby teams. When I was high school-age, I switched from soccer to football, because that American football contact is serious... The concussions I had, and the surgeries I had is not a joke🏈🇺🇲
I love watching NFL. The few times I've tried to watch Rugby League, I had a hard time figuring out how it's played. Rugby isn't on TV enough to really learn the game. However, I can appreciate the arguments for rugby being tough, and I'd say NFL, and NRL are equally tough in different ways.
When I was a Combat Medic in the US Army, we had a division rugby team. We called it the "Soldier Killer" or "Career Killer" do to the stupidly high rate of injuries that got the players medically discharged.
I do not see this as a fair debate. Now I have a question for you and that is have you ever put on a Football (NFL) uniform? Pads and Helmut are based on protection, but do restrict as well. The bigger question is why Rugby players do not attempt to play in the NFL? I'm not sure if the money is a better opportunity, but I have a feeling it would be, so why have we not seen a Rugger play in the NFL? Crazy does not mean tougher as I think it takes a special crazy to play a contact sport in your 20's and 30's. What is actual tough anyway, define it for me, I think any person that performs in this athletic field is some sort of tough becasue they have the skill to do so and that takes commitment from each of them. I just want to see a Rugby Player attempt to play any position in the NFL and to do that make a team and start on the field for a season, as well I want to see any American NFL Player attempt to play a season of Rugby. I think we all would be waiting a long time to see that happen. Here is another, How about an American who plays club Rugby talk about why they never played American Football or why they did not play Football and got into rugby. Im sure there are people that in their home country grew up playing Rugby and really may never have been exposed to American Football, but may have even played Rugby as a kid and in later life went to an American University that has American College Football and may have even went to a Game, learned the game or even became a fan. So is there an example of a Other than American who got into the NFL? There must be a reason that can clear up the question why there is not much crossover between region and Rugby and American Football.
I’m not sure I agree. If you get a video of the biggest rugby hits vs the biggest nfl hits the collisions are very similar and the rugby players have zero protective gear.
@@kabirconsiders Obviously, the ball carrier in both sports attract hits all the time although not every hit is highlight real worthy. To me, the difference is that in rugby it appears to be illegal to hit a player who is not in possession of the ball, the exception being a player who has just gotten rid of the ball. In the NFL, collisions, both big and small, are happening at all times during a play. Some of the biggest hits you will see are blocks being made on defensive players. Just because you do not have the ball does not make you immune from being hit at any level of football. You have to constantly be aware of it at all times.
I love Football. I have a favorite AFC and NFC team that I’ve been following for almost fifty years. And though I’ve seen some brutal hits in the NFL , In my opinion Rugby is a tougher sport. They have absolutely no protection. If you want to find out the obvious truth , ask each NFL team to play one game without protection , and you will get a resounding “NO” from each team.....GUARANTEED. When I was younger , I played football and a little bit of rugby. My conclusion , You can keep that crazy ass rugby. 🤣🤣🤣
@@kabirconsiders They put force moniering sensors on both players in a study done a few years ago and the NFL HITS WERE 3X HARDER If rugby players could play in the NFL they would as the monies 10x better
In Rugby your more likely to get a lot of cuts and bruises and some broken bones but in football you get concussions, lacerated organs, also broken bones so a much higher risk of serious injury. Both are tough but you should be more afraid of football. I would also say the NFL has far more freak of nature type athletes. In Rugby stamina is most important. In football explosiveness is more important.
Biggest difference is that in Rugby, it is basically "kill the man with the ball". If you don't have the ball, you are not going to be hit. In Football (NFL), EVERYONE is an open target to be hit. Half your team is hitting each other the entire game (Offensive and Defensive line), Running backs and Linebackers for blocks, Defensive ends and Receivers off the line before routes and once caught. Plus you could be hit by someone throwing a "block" on you to keep you away from the guy with the ball without notice. Outside of that? The biggest difference in regard to "toughness" has to be judged by the amount of RULE CHANGES that have happened in the last 10-20 years in both leagues. Today's NFL is completely different than it was just 10 years ago, let alone 20 .... and is becoming even more difficult to play because of the rule restrictions due to health issues, making the players far more PRECISE in their hits.
A friend of mine started out playing rugby and was very good at it, was always in the scrum. Big guy, 6'3", 350. He switched over to football, CFL, and his knees got mangled. Said he wished he had stayed with rugby.
Any NFL football player, can learn Rugby in Australia, and be a superstar athlete, while making a fraction of cash playing Rugby compared to NFL football. Australian and English Rugby players only, even have a chance in the NFL...and that would be them being a kicker only.🏈🇺🇲
There's arguments for both sides depending on what your definition of tough is. Rugby players have a lot of credit in my opinion because for the most part, as least from the little I've seen, they are able to maintain a cooler head or at least focus on the bigger goal through out their game. NFL has a bit of a rep for having fights between teams and not like rivalry fights. On the other hand, I'd have to put this in the same place as the which is more extreme Formula or NASCAR? Technically Formula is a lot more technical, but NASCAR is pedal to the metal with little less regard to safety (again we [the USA]) are a bit notorious for the amount of contact we have. And that's more than likely due to NASCAR stock cars being an engine, drive train and transmission, wheels, roll cage, fuel tank, and fiber glass body with an emphasis on the roll cage. Sure F1 cars are designed to be safe, but bumps and fender benders hurt them a lot more and crashes are a bit more of a mess (in regards to debris on the track) as a car or 9 disintegrates along the walls. NASCAR, more often than not there's collisions going on and big crashes involve fire and a car rolling while ejecting all 4 wheels and half of its body paneling. So the "padding/protection" of NFL and NASCAR gives way to more reckless actions, but NRL and F1 have a very hard mental and endurance demand. Depending on your personal definition of 'tough' either of those could be considered tougher than the other.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but surely there are stats on number and severity of injuries. What I do know is that every week, there's a litany of players out for the next week or the rest of the season.
I was hoping for more scienctific comparisons. I tend to believe NFL is more dangerous and harder hitting even considering the padding. It seems rugby is more stamina. Not all football players have the endurance to play nonstop like rugby players. Just watch a linebacker try to run the ball very far & you can see the difference. I think everyone wants to think their favorite is the toughest. Testing & comparing the physiological effects of different hits and of playing a game would be very interesting.
There have been studies done with force impact sensors accordingly the NFL PLAYER TACKLE is 3x that of a rugby player (BIGGEST FASTEST MEN ON THE PLANET )If a rugby player could make it in the NFL they would as the $$10x better
I think that if I had to take a real big hit I would rather have the padding of the NFL. The NFL is like a game of chess. The players have to memorize a hundred plays, coverages, and signals on both offense and defense. They are constantly making adjustments to counter what the other team is doing. It is a very cerebral game.
I have always wondered how rugby players do it when I've seen clips and highlights. But, the thing with football is that it's so much faster. Even with the pads, the impacts can be incredible. So, the difference is being able to go full-speed every 30-45 seconds vs lumbering around after some time. Both are physically exhausting sports. I don't believe one is tougher than the other. They're just different.
A couple of minutes between plays? Absent a timeout, the max time between plays in the NFL is 40 seconds, by rule, and teams only use the entire 40 seconds to run out the clock under normal circumstances.
I would imagine that rugby players more likely consist of a lot of men built like linebackers and fullbacks with a few scat backs added in. Rugby guys need to be able to run and run and run as well as be quite strong. NFL players are more specialized and at least get a chance to catch some breaths between downs and commercials. The two major differences that I see are the collisions and forward passing in the NFL. I take nothing away from either group of men.
Hayne attracted significant attention when he made the switch from one of the NRL's top players to a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 NFL season. At the end of the season, Hayne ended his NFL career.
Christian Wade, Jarryd Hayne and Jordan Mailata, among others, have all made an impact after switching to America’s national sport. In fact, a former Scottish rugby union player is currently doing exceptionally well as a punter in the NFL. Jamie Gillan plays for the Cleveland Browns and has just enjoyed an outstanding ‘rookie season’.
Rate of injury should be the metric used to determine the answer. If there is a higher rate of injury in NFL, then I have no issue concluding it's the "tougher" sport - coming from a rugby fan.
My greatest risk level that I personally will take head on when it comes to sports is either bowling or billiards. When I was younger and more reckless I would take a walk on the wild side and play darts but at my age it's just not worth the risk anymore......and is it really a sport if you can't drink beer and smoke cigarettes while playing? This is America dammit!
Why does Rugby allow their players to be hit like that. Early football was extremely bad because they could hit you anyway they wished and lead to injuries that affected them for years. So as time went by rules had to be put in place to try and protect the players
Padding or no padding, the best and easiest way of telling which of the two sports is tougher is to examine the frequency & severity of injuries sustained during their respective seasons; end of story.😉 Peace🕊
Im not even a nerd (math guy) or a jock (sports guy) and I can tell you there is way more to it than that. Like what is more dangerous smoking everyday or driving everyday.
@@beesnestna9544 wow I see that youre terrible at context clues and reading and you go straight to dissing... I shall not engage with you further good sir... Id rather you contine thinking im dumb and stupid than to engage and have to needlessly explain what I mean when what I simply said should be enough... Good bye good sir... Blocked
@@kelb0y9o20 Now I can see that you actually are, probably still in grammar school or high-school. I still think you have no idea what you're talking about, since your first and second comments still have no substance to them. And don't forget, YOU started this. So blame yourself only.😉
Having been involved in both sports here... There's a difference. Rugby players have more running and need more endurance. And not taking anything away from rugby hits, they can be brutal. But people, such as yourself, get the only impression that the NFL padding makes hits softer..that's a fools assumption. It also creates a harder hit. The pads are solid, very non-forgiving. To put it in a descriptive imagery for you. Take a fighter...most people see the football pads and assume it makes things softer....like a padded boxing glove. But these pads aren't soft and actually increase the force that you hit with... because they're hard shell. It's more like the effect of brass knuckles...still worn on the hand like a boxing glove but instead of making it softer...it makes it harder. Hope that helps. Again, not taking away from rugby...both are brutal sports. But it's two different types of toughness.
I say on the basis of toughness, I give it a draw. Overall Rugby players are in better combat shape, because regardless of the position, they have to constantly remain in motion, and still maintain their level of intensity. Football is more violent (especially to all of us who played prior to the 90s) before all the new safety rules really began to kick in. All of us over 50 played a game like rugby when we were teens called Sandlot football, which is American football without the pads, or longest yard, where you put a football in the middle of a field and who ever had the stones, picked up the ball and tried to run to the endzone and try to score a touchdown without being tackled...also without pads. Wherever the runner was tackled is where the ball was put into play, and who ever picked up the ball, had to run to the enzone that was the longest distance away (hence the name of the game). Scoring was 7 point per touchdown, and first person to score 28 points (or who ever had the most points before someone got hurt) won.
(shrug) Okay. Try hitting a punching machine that gauges how much force you’re putting behind your punches. Try with, and without a glove. Tell me which one consistently provides more “oomph.” Spoiler: The glove sure as hell doesn’t weaken the punch.
Rugby is more complete and difficult. Every player have to attack and defend every 80 fun minute. In the nfl you play only one position 5 seconds every play and take 40 sec breath
the NFL is more strategy base than rugby is. Rugby is exciting cause it jus non stop back and forth its like kill the man with the ball jus organized. I watched the NFL since I was a kid but when I discovered rugby I gave it due respect cause those dudes are jus as beast and jus as physical.
The appeal of NFL to me is not so much seeing guys hit each other as the chess match that goes on between the coaches/coordinators during the "down time" that rugby or soccer fans might despise. During the game itself there are two hours of playcalling interspersed with some twenty minutes of action where anything can happen. There's no other sport like American football in that respect.
I don't watch either sport, but just looking at those rugby players in this video, I didn't see any physically big enough to be an NFL player. Those guys are giants. People have died played football. I don't know which is harder, but I know I'd at least feel less intimidated walking out onto a rugby field (but I wouldn't go out on either field because I'm female, lol). Sorry to hear about your injuries! Either way, rugby is a rough sport too.
I love your vids...you have great vids...When we were 6 yrs. old, in Texas, it was nothing to play no-pads, tackle football on the street, on concrete. The pads are bcuz after school, we would play no-pads football all the time. When I played college football, a 260 lb linebacker, has no problem ripping the head off a 220 running back...and this was just in practice....Rugby generally has smaller players. No "tough" Australian or English Rugby players, have never had success from rugby, to the NFL. Is there a world-wide famous halftime show for Rugby? No, the world cares about how dangerous NFL players are, and the risk of death is just way harder in USA NFL, Compared to random rugby. When I was I kid, 30 yrs. ago in Texas football, we played a game called " throw-up punch"...if They throw the football is in the air, you run to the endzone unless you you get punched...no pads, gym clothes. All NFL players are that tough...we was in Texas, playing football, without pads, after school, in the 1st grade 🏈🏈🏈 To answer your question, NFL is the toughest, most athletic sport in the world.
I think it's about the same. If rugby players has PP gear they would hit as hard as American football. if American football players lost the PP gear, they probably wouldn't hit as hard as they do
I’ll say this, NFL is made up of professional and extremely strong players. The best of the best. Pads give you the illusion that you are safe to hit each other as hard as you can (extremely strong dudes in their prime that are 6’4 220-240 pounds) helmets can be as padded as you want, what damages you the most is your Brain is shaking in your head back and forth. Again imo it’s worse because a of the illusion of safety.
I don't consider this whole argument even important. They are both tough sports. I prefer football a better game because of all the strategy involved, but it is what I have been around.
American football is by far tougher. Yeah in rugby you spend more time on the field. But most players are closer together. There isn't the gap between them. Which is were a player generates speed and power. And don't let the pads fool you. They are nothing more then plastic. They help very little.
Any time you get the top athletes of a place getting together and being willing to hurt each other, it's going to be tough. The thumbnail has Sebastian Chabal (spelling?) and he could have been a very good outside linebacker in the NFL (even though he was Union, not League) Would that Neanderthal be any more or less tough in the other sport? I don't think so. A lot of toughness is mindset. I've seen (relatively) wimpy NFL players and rugby players. I've seen guys in both sports having no regard for their own bodies... much less anyone else's... If you ask me which sport is tougher, I'd ask who is on the field at any given time.
Rugby is a slower game as far as pure speed. If they could move like nfl players do there would be someone carted off the field every game. Nfl is a lot of start n stop but every collision is like a car wreck. Oh and Dnt forget….us normal people play this sport with no pads….just a mouth piece and cleats.
I'm curious..why is it that rugby players do NOT wear any protective gear? I would imagine that there are serious injuries due to lack of protection? Which would then sideline a fair amount of players if injured. Just wondering then if they did..would the sports then have some equivalency?
Both sports are tough, and I like watching them both. But I think they both approaching the point where the athletes are just too well conditioned. I remember watching the play where Juju got blown up in real time...that was brutal.
Unless you have played both… you cannot truly know the difference… I’ve played both and football is tougher because of the size and speed… heavier players and bigger and faster in football
Put Lieonel Messi, in pads at WR, in the NFL...the greatest, soccer player ever...He wouldn't make it through one NFL practice before he would quit...I have NO idea of who is the beat Rugby ever player is...Rugby is like Soccer, and I tried out for USA national team, but I never made it...The danger in American football, is just more exciting to play in...Who is one, black rugby player that you know, and is world-wide famous?🤔
Contact sport vs COLLISION sport!! Same story, "no pads this/no pads that". NO DIFFERENT THAN AMERICAN KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND & IN PARKS!!!!!! Guess what!! Still tackling the same way because THAT'S the nature of football. Nobody is wrapping their arms around each other like rugby. Only the ball carrier receives contact in rugby. In football anybody can get hit...AT FULL FORCE....at ANY MOMENT!! Getting REALLY tired of non Americans pretending football players are wrapped in pillows. American Football & rugby should be Olympic sports, That would shut many people up. Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wasn't good enough to play pro football in the U.S. or Canada!
I'm an American and I still remember the first time I saw rugby being played and I thought to myself wait a minute, they don't wear protective gear!?!?!?
The toughest sport of all is NHL ! Those guys fight, get cut, go off ice, get stitched up, and come back out for more. No sport compares. Even though football is my favorite. They are getting soft now. New rules are getting crazy. Soon, they'll be playing flag football.
Rugby of course. Obviously. No contest. What’s the deal with NFL-philes here? Let me guess their bias against other biases. Go figure. Stop wearing pads, because you don’t want to get hurt? Sheesh. But still, Rugby is the best. It’s played around the world, well more specifically Rugby Union, while the league is somewhat i guess few countries involved. What’s the deal with NFL having world champions if they’re the only country that plays it? Wth? 🤷♂️😂🤡
Years ago, I watched a Rugby player's UA-cam channel who played for New Zealand. He got invited to practice with an NFL team for a week. He said he had never been hit so hard in his life, and it was just practice.
Thx...I just posted the same...when I played college football in Texas, getting a concussion was nothing...those NFL hits are 3 times harder than college football was
Every time someone says "but they have pads" I want to see them strap on the pads and take a few hits then come back and talk about how much better the pads make it. In any event, I think the whole conversation of which sport is "tougher" is fairly pointless. The obvious answer is "neither", followed closely by "have you ever watched bull riding?"
Rugby hits are like running into a wall. Football is the same except the wall is also running at you.
Porque le llaman fútbol si usan las manos.?
There was a NFL linebacker named Dhani Jones. He had a show on the history or travel channel don’t remember what one called Dhani Jones tackles the globe. He went to different countries and tried other countries and cultures favorite sport. He would spend a week or two learning the sport and culture and then try it in a event. He went to the UK and did rugby and played in a game. He actually did quite well actually. The rugby team asked him what was harder and he said NFL was harder, maybe worth it to find the episode and check it out.
Facts...them Rugby players aren't coming to NFL, unless they are a kicker...Dhani Jones was a beast and he wasn't even as good as Lawrence Taylor🇺🇲🏈
Loved that show . Seen that episode.
That'd be a good show for him to react to.
That really was a good show.
Thanks for the reminder; I'd forgotten about that show and how interesting it was.
Here is my argument for football. The stop and go nature of American Football allows for Sprint Speed from both players in opposite directions. When you are running at constant like Rugby or Soccer you do sprint but your point of collision is going to happen at lower speeds in general. American Football Players are expected to get to top speed within the first 10 yards. Then you add the fact that the average Size of players are dramatically bigger. you have Defensive linemen that are 330lbs that can run as fast as anyone on the field especially when taking the correct angle to the tackle. I would say that you need to change your mindset on endurance and to think more about anaerobic endurance. Think of having to do several sprints in a row. Then getting a time to recoup. Then go to do more sprints. Here is a pad argument that you don't normally talk about. We know that the average tackle in football has higher force. Just because you protect your bones with pads doesn't mean that your internal organs are not getting the concussive force on your bodies/ organs.
ESPN sports science calculated a rugby hit at 2200 Lbs per sq inch, NFL hit at 4800 Lbs per sq inch .
Sensors on real people being tackled.
Rugby players more indurance, NFL players more explosive speed to power . Both are tough 💪
100% ESP since the NFL player is going to be bigger/faster
Look at the cucucusions NFL players get compaired to rugby. That should tell you ?
To me, what makes games like soccer and rugby less interesting is the fact that it is more endurance based. Watching Usain Bolt is way more exciting to me than watching a marathon. American Football is explosive, fast, high finesse, and requires tremendous strategic knowledge and awareness. The average NFL team has about 4,000 different offensive plays, with around 6,000 variations of those. The whole team learns the code language for each of those calls. The QB can make a call change at the last second before snap because he sees an opportunity in how the defense lined up, yells out the command, and with military precision, the carnage kicks off at sprint speeds. This will probably make a lot of non-Americans mad... but NFL requires the same levels of athleticism as Rugby or Soccer, it just also requires a fair amount of strategic intelligence. Rugby + Sprinting/Shotput type explosive atheleticism + Chess = American Football. Rugby and soccer by comparison seems rather cognitively mundane, just great cardio and core strength.
Yes, I realize those are fighting words for many reading this. Deal with it. =P
NFL and it isn’t close, i watch both too!
100% they compared both with sencors that moniter force and the NFL was 3x higher
NFL uses more “explosive” force, versus “sustained” effort of rugby.
Now what I really want to see is Baseball VS Cricket at it's highest level. I have a feeling that Baseball players would dominate international cricket with some training. ESPN did a poll a decade or so ago where they breakdown the hardest sports. Baseball had the highest eye/ hand coordination. There is nothing in sports harder than trying to hit a major league pitcher.
NFL has higher quality athletes and is much more brutal. Rugby is tough but NFL is on a different level.
I don’t know man, NFL use pads and helmets, rugby doesn’t and they feel everything so that to me makes them tougher.
@@Shuganuttz They feel everything... which is why they aren't as reckless. Football players will slam into each other with zero regard for their wellbeing. Also, they're wearing hard plastic, not bubble wrap. Running into the other person dressed like that is going to hurt them.
Rugby is a compact sport, American football is a collision sport.
@@Shuganuttz A study using FORCE MONITERING SENSORS was done a few years ago The NFL HITS were 3x harder
One thing about the NFL is that due to the breaks between plays, players usually go full throttle every play
That’s a good point
Agreed, that the burst of speed and power in US football is something that is required to play at the top level, but I also believe the average fitness level for a player in rugby is higher on the cardio end of the scale. US football is a series of sprints and rugby is a marathon. You just don’t see 300lb guys playing rugby. I liked the 8 man/running back analogy. BTW I’ve played both US football and rugby in organized sports.
@@kabirconsiders yeah and having to run for 80 minute matches they’d have to hit softer later in the rugby match because of fatigue…but having that conditioning would be harder to upkeep than the nfl…
@@kabirconsiders I would like to point out very single NFL player autopsied showed signs of Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
@@douglascampbell9809 every single NFL player? where's this stat at.
Collar bones heal. Brains do not...
Can we just get a crossover game between rugby and football...full out...just straight guts!
Watch 6 minutes of rugby,then 15 minutes, then a game or two. American football is a much different sport, which is tougher? AF average career is around 4 years long and the incentive to play is much higher. Rugby is a piece of cake comparatively,rarely do rugby players achieve top speed and get opposed at top speed.
Rugby has no passing,no blocking,no blind side hits,and very strict tackling rules..there is also no playbook in Rugby..it's very simple.
NFL hands down no pads lots of death's would occur
In the last 10 years, rugby league put restrictions on tackles for those reasons.
Remember Kabir, padding was mandatory following the 1919 college season because of the large amount of deaths pre padding.
How can he remember, he doesn't know the history of football.
Be kind and enlighten Kabir. Tell him where to find the story and data. He doesn't really understand all the rules yet.👍❤
The reason why helmets and pads are required now is because of the high fatality rate American Football had in the early days. Originally, it was essentially Rugby and gradually evolved into what it is now with rules additions and the slow adoption of safety equipment.
They’ve already done this on sports science back in the day with actual scientific data. The power generated from hits in football is on another level simply because of the forward pass. There will never be a situation in rugby where two players are running full speed into each other in opposite directions
Had a friend that played rugby for years. Tried out for football. Permanently injured his back and got a concussion first game. Said the pads were like paper when considering the force of the blows and that it legitimately felt like the other team was out to kill him. That they were like gladiators fighting to the death more than players in a game.
So thinking about which is tougher, I’d say AFL. It’s more explosive and violent. Rugby is a longer game and probably uses up more endurance during play.
The best NFL team can play the best rugby team in a match, and the NFL's best football team, would any of the best world-wide rugby teams.
When I was high school-age, I switched from soccer to football, because that American football contact is serious...
The concussions I had, and the surgeries I had is not a joke🏈🇺🇲
NFL without pads would cause so many deaths 😂
I love watching NFL. The few times I've tried to watch Rugby League, I had a hard time figuring out how it's played. Rugby isn't on TV enough to really learn the game. However, I can appreciate the arguments for rugby being tough, and I'd say NFL, and NRL are equally tough in different ways.
When I was a Combat Medic in the US Army, we had a division rugby team. We called it the "Soldier Killer" or "Career Killer" do to the stupidly high rate of injuries that got the players medically discharged.
I do not see this as a fair debate. Now I have a question for you and that is have you ever put on a Football (NFL) uniform? Pads and Helmut are based on protection, but do restrict as well.
The bigger question is why Rugby players do not attempt to play in the NFL? I'm not sure if the money is a better opportunity, but I have a feeling it would be, so why have we not seen a Rugger play in the NFL?
Crazy does not mean tougher as I think it takes a special crazy to play a contact sport in your 20's and 30's. What is actual tough anyway, define it for me, I think any person that performs in this athletic field is some sort of tough becasue they have the skill to do so and that takes commitment from each of them.
I just want to see a Rugby Player attempt to play any position in the NFL and to do that make a team and start on the field for a season, as well I want to see any American NFL Player attempt to play a season of Rugby. I think we all would be waiting a long time to see that happen.
Here is another, How about an American who plays club Rugby talk about why they never played American Football or why they did not play Football and got into rugby.
Im sure there are people that in their home country grew up playing Rugby and really may never have been exposed to American Football, but may have even played Rugby as a kid and in later life went to an American University that has American College Football and may have even went to a Game, learned the game or even became a fan. So is there an example of a Other than American who got into the NFL?
There must be a reason that can clear up the question why there is not much crossover between region and Rugby and American Football.
Rugby is a fine sport but it's really no comparison to the collision sport known as the NFL.
I’m not sure I agree. If you get a video of the biggest rugby hits vs the biggest nfl hits the collisions are very similar and the rugby players have zero protective gear.
@@kabirconsiders Obviously, the ball carrier in both sports attract hits all the time although not every hit is highlight real worthy. To me, the difference is that in rugby it appears to be illegal to hit a player who is not in possession of the ball, the exception being a player who has just gotten rid of the ball. In the NFL, collisions, both big and small, are happening at all times during a play. Some of the biggest hits you will see are blocks being made on defensive players. Just because you do not have the ball does not make you immune from being hit at any level of football. You have to constantly be aware of it at all times.
I love Football. I have a favorite AFC and NFC team that I’ve been following for almost fifty years. And though I’ve seen some brutal hits in the NFL , In my opinion Rugby is a tougher sport. They have absolutely no protection. If you want to find out the obvious truth , ask each NFL team to play one game without protection , and you will get a resounding “NO” from each team.....GUARANTEED. When I was younger , I played football and a little bit of rugby. My conclusion , You can keep that crazy ass rugby. 🤣🤣🤣
@@kabirconsiders They put force moniering sensors on both players in a study done a few years ago and the NFL HITS WERE 3X HARDER If rugby players could play in the NFL they would as the monies 10x better
In Rugby your more likely to get a lot of cuts and bruises and some broken bones but in football you get concussions, lacerated organs, also broken bones so a much higher risk of serious injury. Both are tough but you should be more afraid of football. I would also say the NFL has far more freak of nature type athletes. In Rugby stamina is most important. In football explosiveness is more important.
"NFL" isn't the name of the sport. Its Football, and its 100% tougher than Rugby.
The answer is easy. Ronnie Lott San Francisco had his broken finger amputated so he wouldn't miss the next game.
Biggest difference is that in Rugby, it is basically "kill the man with the ball". If you don't have the ball, you are not going to be hit. In Football (NFL), EVERYONE is an open target to be hit. Half your team is hitting each other the entire game (Offensive and Defensive line), Running backs and Linebackers for blocks, Defensive ends and Receivers off the line before routes and once caught. Plus you could be hit by someone throwing a "block" on you to keep you away from the guy with the ball without notice.
Outside of that? The biggest difference in regard to "toughness" has to be judged by the amount of RULE CHANGES that have happened in the last 10-20 years in both leagues. Today's NFL is completely different than it was just 10 years ago, let alone 20 .... and is becoming even more difficult to play because of the rule restrictions due to health issues, making the players far more PRECISE in their hits.
A friend of mine started out playing rugby and was very good at it, was always in the scrum. Big guy, 6'3", 350. He switched over to football, CFL, and his knees got mangled. Said he wished he had stayed with rugby.
The brain thing is "limited" by helmet to helmet not being allowed, but that's just the start of how hard those guys hit.
Any NFL football player, can learn Rugby in Australia, and be a superstar athlete, while making a fraction of cash playing Rugby compared to NFL football. Australian and English Rugby players only, even have a chance in the NFL...and that would be them being a kicker only.🏈🇺🇲
100% IF A RUGBY PLAYER could play in the NFL they would
Kabir! I have a song you should listen to i think youd find it very interesting, its called Wait in the Truck by HARDY
Jordan Mailata played prop in rugby league and is now a mainstream player for Philly.
There's arguments for both sides depending on what your definition of tough is. Rugby players have a lot of credit in my opinion because for the most part, as least from the little I've seen, they are able to maintain a cooler head or at least focus on the bigger goal through out their game. NFL has a bit of a rep for having fights between teams and not like rivalry fights. On the other hand, I'd have to put this in the same place as the which is more extreme Formula or NASCAR? Technically Formula is a lot more technical, but NASCAR is pedal to the metal with little less regard to safety (again we [the USA]) are a bit notorious for the amount of contact we have. And that's more than likely due to NASCAR stock cars being an engine, drive train and transmission, wheels, roll cage, fuel tank, and fiber glass body with an emphasis on the roll cage. Sure F1 cars are designed to be safe, but bumps and fender benders hurt them a lot more and crashes are a bit more of a mess (in regards to debris on the track) as a car or 9 disintegrates along the walls. NASCAR, more often than not there's collisions going on and big crashes involve fire and a car rolling while ejecting all 4 wheels and half of its body paneling.
So the "padding/protection" of NFL and NASCAR gives way to more reckless actions, but NRL and F1 have a very hard mental and endurance demand. Depending on your personal definition of 'tough' either of those could be considered tougher than the other.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but surely there are stats on number and severity of injuries. What I do know is that every week, there's a litany of players out for the next week or the rest of the season.
This video is the prefect spring board for you to react to the Super Bowl 57 Highlights.
I was hoping for more scienctific comparisons. I tend to believe NFL is more dangerous and harder hitting even considering the padding. It seems rugby is more stamina. Not all football players have the endurance to play nonstop like rugby players. Just watch a linebacker try to run the ball very far & you can see the difference.
I think everyone wants to think their favorite is the toughest. Testing & comparing the physiological effects of different hits and of playing a game would be very interesting.
There have been studies done with force impact sensors accordingly the NFL PLAYER TACKLE is 3x that of a rugby player (BIGGEST FASTEST MEN ON THE PLANET )If a rugby player could make it in the NFL they would as the $$10x better
I think that if I had to take a real big hit I would rather have the padding of the NFL. The NFL is like a game of chess. The players have to memorize a hundred plays, coverages, and signals on both offense and defense. They are constantly making adjustments to counter what the other team is doing. It is a very cerebral game.
I have always wondered how rugby players do it when I've seen clips and highlights. But, the thing with football is that it's so much faster. Even with the pads, the impacts can be incredible. So, the difference is being able to go full-speed every 30-45 seconds vs lumbering around after some time. Both are physically exhausting sports. I don't believe one is tougher than the other. They're just different.
A couple of minutes between plays? Absent a timeout, the max time between plays in the NFL is 40 seconds, by rule, and teams only use the entire 40 seconds to run out the clock under normal circumstances.
I would imagine that rugby players more likely consist of a lot of men built like linebackers and fullbacks with a few scat backs added in. Rugby guys need to be able to run and run and run as well as be quite strong. NFL players are more specialized and at least get a chance to catch some breaths between downs and commercials. The two major differences that I see are the collisions and forward passing in the NFL. I take nothing away from either group of men.
Ask Jarryd Hayne is end of argument played both he said NFL Football
Hayne attracted significant attention when he made the switch from one of the NRL's top players to a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 NFL season. At the end of the season, Hayne ended his NFL career.
Christian Wade, Jarryd Hayne and Jordan Mailata, among others, have all made an impact after switching to America’s national sport.
In fact, a former Scottish rugby union player is currently doing exceptionally well as a punter in the NFL. Jamie Gillan plays for the Cleveland Browns and has just enjoyed an outstanding ‘rookie season’.
Rate of injury should be the metric used to determine the answer. If there is a higher rate of injury in NFL, then I have no issue concluding it's the "tougher" sport - coming from a rugby fan.
Anyone I've heard say they've played both, non-professionally, has said American Football is tougher. From a spectator pov, they both look painful.
My greatest risk level that I personally will take head on when it comes to sports is either bowling or billiards. When I was younger and more reckless I would take a walk on the wild side and play darts but at my age it's just not worth the risk anymore......and is it really a sport if you can't drink beer and smoke cigarettes while playing? This is America dammit!
The 'padding' in NFL and NHL is not soft, its like armor !
It's American Gridiron Football. There is also Canadian Gridiron Football.
NFL hands down!
Why does Rugby allow their players to be hit like that. Early football was extremely bad because they could hit you anyway they wished and lead to injuries that affected them for years. So as time went by rules had to be put in place to try and protect the players
Padding or no padding, the best and easiest way of telling which of the two sports is tougher is to examine the frequency & severity of injuries sustained during their respective seasons; end of story.😉 Peace🕊
Im not even a nerd (math guy) or a jock (sports guy) and I can tell you there is way more to it than that. Like what is more dangerous smoking everyday or driving everyday.
@@kelb0y9o20 "Nerd guy"? "Math Guy"? "Jock"? "Smoking vs Driving"?!😆 Do you even have any idea what you're talking about?😆
@@beesnestna9544 wow I see that youre terrible at context clues and reading and you go straight to dissing... I shall not engage with you further good sir... Id rather you contine thinking im dumb and stupid than to engage and have to needlessly explain what I mean when what I simply said should be enough... Good bye good sir... Blocked
@@kelb0y9o20 Now I can see that you actually are, probably still in grammar school or high-school. I still think you have no idea what you're talking about, since your first and second comments still have no substance to them. And don't forget, YOU started this. So blame yourself only.😉
A few years ago they put force monotering sensorson both players The average NFL HIT IS 3X GREATER
Having been involved in both sports here... There's a difference. Rugby players have more running and need more endurance. And not taking anything away from rugby hits, they can be brutal. But people, such as yourself, get the only impression that the NFL padding makes hits softer..that's a fools assumption. It also creates a harder hit. The pads are solid, very non-forgiving. To put it in a descriptive imagery for you. Take a fighter...most people see the football pads and assume it makes things softer....like a padded boxing glove. But these pads aren't soft and actually increase the force that you hit with... because they're hard shell. It's more like the effect of brass knuckles...still worn on the hand like a boxing glove but instead of making it softer...it makes it harder. Hope that helps. Again, not taking away from rugby...both are brutal sports. But it's two different types of toughness.
I say on the basis of toughness, I give it a draw. Overall Rugby players are in better combat shape, because regardless of the position, they have to constantly remain in motion, and still maintain their level of intensity. Football is more violent (especially to all of us who played prior to the 90s) before all the new safety rules really began to kick in. All of us over 50 played a game like rugby when we were teens called Sandlot football, which is American football without the pads, or longest yard, where you put a football in the middle of a field and who ever had the stones, picked up the ball and tried to run to the endzone and try to score a touchdown without being tackled...also without pads. Wherever the runner was tackled is where the ball was put into play, and who ever picked up the ball, had to run to the enzone that was the longest distance away (hence the name of the game). Scoring was 7 point per touchdown, and first person to score 28 points (or who ever had the most points before someone got hurt) won.
(shrug) Okay. Try hitting a punching machine that gauges how much force you’re putting behind your punches.
Try with, and without a glove. Tell me which one consistently provides more “oomph.”
Spoiler: The glove sure as hell doesn’t weaken the punch.
There are no guys who have come nrl to NFL and done much. Maybe it shows something
Exactly..Rugby doesn't pay,so they would all be over here making millions,if they could do it..
Rugby is more complete and difficult.
Every player have to attack and defend every 80 fun minute.
In the nfl you play only one position 5 seconds every play and take 40 sec breath
Jarryd Hayne played rugby league and NFL and the kicker for the eagles in the superbowl this year played league and nfl
the NFL is more strategy base than rugby is. Rugby is exciting cause it jus non stop back and forth its like kill the man with the ball jus organized. I watched the NFL since I was a kid but when I discovered rugby I gave it due respect cause those dudes are jus as beast and jus as physical.
We all have our biases but the numbers will back up the fact that without a doubt the nfl is tougher
The appeal of NFL to me is not so much seeing guys hit each other as the chess match that goes on between the coaches/coordinators during the "down time" that rugby or soccer fans might despise.
During the game itself there are two hours of playcalling interspersed with some twenty minutes of action where anything can happen.
There's no other sport like American football in that respect.
I don't watch either sport, but just looking at those rugby players in this video, I didn't see any physically big enough to be an NFL player. Those guys are giants. People have died played football. I don't know which is harder, but I know I'd at least feel less intimidated walking out onto a rugby field (but I wouldn't go out on either field because I'm female, lol). Sorry to hear about your injuries! Either way, rugby is a rough sport too.
I love your vids...you have great vids...When we were 6 yrs. old, in Texas, it was nothing to play no-pads, tackle football on the street, on concrete.
The pads are bcuz after school, we would play no-pads football all the time.
When I played college football, a 260 lb linebacker, has no problem ripping the head off a 220 running back...and this was just in practice....Rugby generally has smaller players. No "tough" Australian or English Rugby players, have never had success from rugby, to the NFL.
Is there a world-wide famous halftime show for Rugby?
No, the world cares about how dangerous NFL players are, and the risk of death is just way harder in USA NFL, Compared to random rugby.
When I was I kid, 30 yrs. ago in Texas football, we played a game called " throw-up punch"...if
They throw the football is in the air, you run to the endzone unless you you get punched...no pads, gym clothes. All NFL players are that tough...we was in Texas, playing football, without pads, after school, in the 1st grade 🏈🏈🏈
To answer your question, NFL is the toughest, most athletic sport in the world.
I think it's about the same. If rugby players has PP gear they would hit as hard as American football. if American football players lost the PP gear, they probably wouldn't hit as hard as they do
Not even close A few years ago a study was done monitering the force of tackles using sensors that judge FORCE The NFL tackle is 3x higher
I’ll say this, NFL is made up of professional and extremely strong players. The best of the best. Pads give you the illusion that you are safe to hit each other as hard as you can (extremely strong dudes in their prime that are 6’4 220-240 pounds) helmets can be as padded as you want, what damages you the most is your Brain is shaking in your head back and forth. Again imo it’s worse because a of the illusion of safety.
It looks like Rugby is tougher. As you pointed out no protection at all. I had no knowlege of Rugby till watching this.
Daz from Office Blokes played both, he says football is tougher to him.
Both sports are crazy and you gotta be missing a few screws to play either of them, that’s my thoughts on this.
I don't consider this whole argument even important. They are both tough sports. I prefer football a better game because of all the strategy involved, but it is what I have been around.
I have only played at the second highest level for them both but I have to say rugby.
American football is by far tougher. Yeah in rugby you spend more time on the field. But most players are closer together. There isn't the gap between them. Which is were a player generates speed and power.
And don't let the pads fool you. They are nothing more then plastic. They help very little.
They don't run 45 minutes nonstop..that's impossible!
When I watch Rugby,I see guys standing around or barely walking..
Any time you get the top athletes of a place getting together and being willing to hurt each other, it's going to be tough.
The thumbnail has Sebastian Chabal (spelling?) and he could have been a very good outside linebacker in the NFL (even though he was Union, not League)
Would that Neanderthal be any more or less tough in the other sport? I don't think so.
A lot of toughness is mindset. I've seen (relatively) wimpy NFL players and rugby players. I've seen guys in both sports having no regard for their own bodies... much less anyone else's...
If you ask me which sport is tougher, I'd ask who is on the field at any given time.
Oh wow. I can see that, early demention in both sports.
Rugby is a slower game as far as pure speed. If they could move like nfl players do there would be someone carted off the field every game. Nfl is a lot of start n stop but every collision is like a car wreck. Oh and Dnt forget….us normal people play this sport with no pads….just a mouth piece and cleats.
I'm curious..why is it that rugby players do NOT wear any protective gear? I would imagine that there are serious injuries due to lack of protection? Which would then sideline a fair amount of players if injured. Just wondering then if they did..would the sports then have some equivalency?
Both sports are tough, and I like watching them both.
But I think they both approaching the point where the athletes are just too well conditioned.
I remember watching the play where Juju got blown up in real time...that was brutal.
and deserved it.
Unless you have played both… you cannot truly know the difference… I’ve played both and football is tougher because of the size and speed… heavier players and bigger and faster in football
It's not even up for debate..The NFL is bigger,faster,stronger,more complex, and much more entertaining ...Rugby is checkers..NFL is chess.
Watch some of the old film from the 40s-50s
NFL for sure.
Put Lieonel Messi, in pads at WR, in the NFL...the greatest, soccer player ever...He wouldn't make it through one NFL practice before he would quit...I have NO idea of who is the beat Rugby ever player is...Rugby is like Soccer, and I tried out for USA national team, but I never made it...The danger in American football, is just more exciting to play in...Who is one, black rugby player that you know, and is world-wide famous?🤔
100% If rugby players could play in the NFL they would as the $ 10x better
Rugby no debat because it is a collisions sport nfl contact sport
Sorry but there is no rugby player that could handle the NFL. There is no comparison between the 2 the NFL is far more brutal
230 is baby weight firbthe NFL.... The little guys are 250
Not even close the NFL PLAYER IS BIGGER FASTER STRONGER Any impact moniter science has the NFL HITS 3X HARDER
Where does Australian Rules Football fall in this conversation?
Seems to me with limited experience that Ozzie Footy is like rugby but maybe faster.
NFL because there’s more head to head trauma
The best athletes in the world play in the NFL and NBA..it's a fact !
MLB is third for best athletes.
Contact sport vs COLLISION sport!! Same story, "no pads this/no pads that". NO DIFFERENT THAN AMERICAN KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND & IN PARKS!!!!!! Guess what!! Still tackling the same way because THAT'S the nature of football. Nobody is wrapping their arms around each other like rugby. Only the ball carrier receives contact in rugby. In football anybody can get hit...AT FULL FORCE....at ANY MOMENT!! Getting REALLY tired of non Americans pretending football players are wrapped in pillows. American Football & rugby should be Olympic sports, That would shut many people up. Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wasn't good enough to play pro football in the U.S. or Canada!
Australian Rules Football is insane. I got addicted to watching a long time ago.
Is rugby the same as aussie football?
I'm an American and I still remember the first time I saw rugby being played and I thought to myself wait a minute, they don't wear protective gear!?!?!?
Rugbys ghey
The toughest sport of all is NHL ! Those guys fight, get cut, go off ice, get stitched up, and come back out for more. No sport compares. Even though football is my favorite. They are getting soft now. New rules are getting crazy. Soon, they'll be playing flag football.
I would say Rugby 🏉 you see how rugby guys have lost teeth broken noses etc my son played rugby it's why people have heart attacks playing it
Rugby
Rugby of course. Obviously. No contest. What’s the deal with NFL-philes here? Let me guess their bias against other biases. Go figure. Stop wearing pads, because you don’t want to get hurt? Sheesh. But still, Rugby is the best. It’s played around the world, well more specifically Rugby Union, while the league is somewhat i guess few countries involved. What’s the deal with NFL having world champions if they’re the only country that plays it? Wth? 🤷♂️😂🤡