Rugby vs American football is probably one of the most distinct conversations or debates of the sporting community. And today, we are here to explain what sets these two similar yet distinct games apart from each other. Stick around to know everything there is to know about these two sports.
The Origin Of These Games
Before we start with our Rugby vs American Football discussion, we have to deal with the history behind these two games like football and rugby rules, etc. This will enable us to understand what shaped these two games and how they differ from each other.
In 1823, Rugby was officially recognized as a sport. The sport was originally born in England. According to historians, a student of the Rugby College named William Webb Ellis can be credited for creating the game of Rugby. According to popular historical anecdotes, during a heated soccer match, Ellis took the ball, ran straight across the playing field to the opponent’s side, and slammed the ball onto the ground. Later on, this practice became common among rugby college players. Subsequently, it developed into a sport. In fact people believe that it is the hardest sports in existence. Primarily due to its physical strain.
American Football, on the other hand, shares some similarities when it comes to origin, but it is very different from the former. As the name suggests, the game was primarily developed in the American subcontinent. The foundation of this game can be traced back to 1860, with the arrival of British settlers. At the time, rugby and football (or soccer) were two of the most popular games. However, one man named Gerrit Smith Miller had the amazing idea to combine rugby with soccer. Remarkably, this combination worked, and American football came into existence. At one point, American football was the most famous game in America.
Therefore, these two games might share some history but are very different from each other in most other aspects. Let us explore those aspects.
Rugby vs American Football
With the basics out of the way, it is time that we delve a little deeper into the technicalities. This will enable us to understand the rugby vs american football debate more closely. In this section, we will look at six primary focus areas and the differences they share. So, without further ado, let us dive right in and look at some of the most important aspects of the rugby vs american football debate.
The Object
The general objectives of both games are quite similar to one another. In both disciplines, players try to get as close to the opponent’s zone as possible. And in that attempt, they can earn points.
In rugby, the point is to ground the ball in the opponent’s zone in order to score a try or +5 points. Meanwhile, in American football, this action is called a touchdown and is valued at +6 points. In both games, the point is to break through the opponent’s defense in order to penetrate the opponent’s zone.
In both games, players might try to score extra points by kicking the ball between the two poles. In Rugby, this action entails +2 points. Meanwhile, in American football, this entails a +1 point.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the points calculations:
- Rugby: A Try is a +5, a Conversion is a +2, a Drop Goal is a +3, and a Penalty Kick is a +3.
- American Football: A Touchdown is a +6, an Extra Point is either +1 or +2, a Field Goal is a +3, and a Safety is a +2 for the opposing team.
Playing Field
The shape of the playing field of Rugby and American football are mostly similar. However, there are some subtle differences that set the playing field apart from each other.
The primary difference that you can find is in the size of the playing field. A standard rugby field should be 100 meters long and 70 meters wide. Meanwhile, Americans follow a different metric. A standard American football field should be 120 yards long and 53.33 yards wide. This translates to 109.2 meters long and 48.53 meters wide.
Subsequently, the goalposts look different as well. While Rugby stadiums have H-shaped goalposts. American football stadiums have y-shaped goalposts.
The Rules
Since both the games share a similar point of origin, it is natural that these games share some similarities in rules. Still, there are certain nuances where the rules differ. As a result, these two games are very different from each other.
The first and foremost difference is the total play-time and play-time division. A standard game of rugby must go on for 80 minutes with two 40-minute halves. A standard match of American football is played in four 15-minute quarters. Therefore, the total match duration of American football is 60 minutes.
The second difference between these two games is the total number of players. There are 15 players a side in a standard game of Rugby. Meanwhile, a standard American football match has 11 players in a side format, with an unlimited amount of replacement. This small difference has a huge impact on the gameplay of the two games.
Equipment
Both sports require a similar-looking ball with similar dimensions. As per regulation, the oval-shaped ball should be around 11-11.25 inches in length, with varied circumference. However, regulations suggest that the balls should have varied air pressure. While American Football should have 12 to 13 lbs of air pressure, Rugby balls must have 9.5 to 10 lbs of air pressure.
Subsequently, both sports require different pieces of protective equipment. In American football, each player is required to wear protective gear. However, in rugby, it differs with the position. In fact, Rugby players wear minimal pieces of safety equipment, while American footballers go all in.
Closing Thought
There you have it. We have reached the very end of our Rugby vs American football discussion. Even though both the games have originated from a similar locus, they have gradually evolved into two distinct variants. One went on to became one of the most popular sports in America and another became a cultural phenomena worldwide. Keep following our page for more such content.
