[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Rugby is more brutal, the lack of padding makes a HUGE difference. Football players dont notice the bumps and bruises as much, but once you remove the equipment, all those guys taking your legs out sure hurts more. [/quote]
Tell that to the guys in the offensive/defensive line. Have a look at their arms/shins after a game – there’ll be plenty of bumps and bruises.
Have you played both sports? I’ll say this: after a rugby game, I feel more banged up – but I’ve felt much more PAIN from football. The ‘padding’ thing is bullshit. Football players basically have a weapon (helmet) attached to their head. The padding allows for more frequent, full-speed, head-on collisions. After all, if I hit you as hard as I possibly can in a rugby match, it’s going to hurt me almost as much as it hurts you – and I need to be able to get back on my feet immediately. IOW, hitting as hard as possible in rugby is stupid. In football, it’s the law of the land. Football is much more violent.
At the top levels, I’d argue the NFL requires athletic ability over skill, while top-tier rugby requires more skill/knowledge/on-field thinking ability.
[quote]cjr1 wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
cjr1 wrote:
…
I’ve been to a few of the Juniata rugby “after parties” and I have to say that I have seen and done some of the craziest things imaginable at them. Good times. I wish the guys on my team went to such lengths to make our parties as ridiculous. Can’t quite 1-up the cadaver story though hahaha.
Do you play? Are you still in the area?
Yea, I play for my college team in pittsburgh during the school year. This summer I’m out of town for an internship in boston, though. I’ve been looking for a team around here, but I think it’s not as popular as it is in PA. If anyone is from the boston area and plays for a legit team let me know cause I’d love to join up.[/quote]
I think you need to look a little harder mate. I play for Providence Rugby, but off the top of my head I can think of the following Boston area teams:
Boston RFC - Super League and DI
Boston Irish Wolfhounds - Super League, DI and DIII
Mystic River - DI
South Shore Anchors - DII
Charles River - DII
Old Gold - DII
North Shore - DIII
Middlesex Barbarians - DIII
Boston Ironsides - DIV (I believe this is an all gay club)
Most of the clubs are probably just doing sevens for the summer, but I’m sure any one of them would be happy to have you turn up.
I think there are a number of problems in making a rugby vs nfl comparison:
1). if your not brought up with the game you tend not to appreciate the intracies of the play. This can be seen both in the low quality of the european football leagues and the low quality of American rugby players.
2). there are TWO codes of rugby, of pretty equal size. Rugby league is a lot more similar 2 American football in that there is more controlled competition for possession. Also league is much more based on physical attributes- size, strength and speed. I would assert that the hits in league are the biggest of the three.
3). there is no doubt that the NFL is a lot faster.
4). the skills in rugby union are very position and sport specific- ie prop, stand off etc so its hard to make comparisons vs NFL players or even rugby league players.