Rugby is one tough sport and not for the averagelightweight man. 17 stone men who can run the 100 metres in 11 secs, thats scary.

American football, same power, but perhaps the wearing of pads doesnt make it as brutal as Rugby?

confused3

The NFL guys are more specialised in there posistions so you see some mismatches in size. A reciever is smaller than a linebacker and the collision requires a brave speedy guy. Also the general size of NFL athletes is bigger and Rugby guys are starting to wear padding too now though obviously not as much. As to the speed, NFL guys are much faster than rugby guys and that's a fact.

For rugby though they have to be far more fit because they don't stop moving about as much. When you're physically exhausted from continual running, impacts hurt a lot more and cause more damage than if you've been practically static for long periods like NFL guys. Also NFL guys can substitute more often and come back on. Rugby guys gotta stick it out.

Le Moor - I've heard this question raised amongst professionals of the games themselves. One thing that was highlighted was the fact that the body protection worn by the NFL evolved as a direct consequence of the damage and injuries sustained by players in the early days.

The US is made up of freaks. Just look at the freaks in their wrestling tournaments, some of these guys are freakily huge...and some of these play in the NFL....body building and steroids abusers paradise.

I'd say the NFL is tougher but you need to be braver to play rugby.

Le Moor wrote: NFL
Another factor I think Safety pointed out before is where tackles are made. Rugby guys tackle by hurling themselves at their opponents legs while in NFL they tackle to the midrift. That's tougher imo, hurts more lol.

I've followed rugby for about four years.Just started watching it regulary this summer on Sentanta Sports.New Zealand has some big dudes,but most seem to be short and few are fast.The NFL gives you the full gamut.

Watcher brought out some greats points.Because of susbstitution NFL player can go all out.But the impact of a say 300 lb player hitting you at full force is liek being struck by a car.Ruby is tought,but not that tough.

Would agree that NFL is tougher in terms of the force and range of physical impact scenarios. 300lb-plus guyswith sub-12 second 100m speed are still not that common in either code of rugby in the UK/Europe.

Speaking of which, not sure which is the tougher code of rugby these days, now that they are both full-time professional at the highest level. League (13-a-side) guys I think still have it (just), though the gap is narrowing with their 15-a-side colleagues...