Can anyone think of a sport that requires a higher level of all around fitness than rugby?

Question

A rugby player has to be able to run, sprint, pass, handle, put in big hits, take big hits, pick themselves up, lift, push, kick, ruck, maul, consider tactics and do several other things that i can't think of right now. And unlike gridiron, rugby players work constantly for 80 mins, without pads. Im talking about Rugby Union.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc0Ut5y-GRc&feature=related

Answer 1

boxing or MMA?

Answer 2

cross country running

Answer 3

try track and field, it takes alot to keep doing sprints and distance around the track and if you throw shotput or something it takes alot of strength and arm muscle -track and field just gets you in all around really good shape.

Answer 4

synchronized swimming

Answer 5

how about WAR you filthy liberal

Answer 6

motocross....the first time I rode a dirt bike I found muscles I never knew existed. your entire body is in constant action; feet-shifting, legs, hands-braking and clutching, arms, back, to say nothing of the abuse of when you wreck.

Answer 7

Lacrosse

Answer 8

try paintball

Answer 9

All sports do. Cricket , hockey, football, basketball.

Answer 10

Having played both AFL and Rubgy Union, i would say that fitness wise you need to have a higher level to play AFL.  I found rubgy was a lot tougher, but much more running and all round fitness required for AFL.

Answer 11

rock climbing, swimming, dirt or regular biking, and track and field . The first two are proven to activate every muscle and tendon in the body, as well as the heart and lungs. And ALL of them will help you with every other sport, plus they are GREAT endurance trainers.  Just remember they all do basically the same things. They are listed them from best to worst. I have also heard boxing and hockey do a really good job, but I have not played either one of them officially.

Answer 12

rugby probably requires the most overall fitness, but lacrosse takes a lot as well. Also, believe it or not, and as feminine as it sounds, gymnastics. I personally hate gymnastics, but it does take a good deal of athleticism to do what they do. its ridiculous.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

http://video.google.com/videosearch?clie...

Answer 13

Rugby, with all its touching & groping, is mainly played by closet homosexuals.

GOLF-Now there's a sport!

Answer 14

hockey

Answer 15

Polo.

1. The most dangerous sport (probability of death) after racing cars

2. Must control 2,000lb animal

3. While playing the equivalent of hockey

4. At 20-40mph

5. As opponents check you with their 2,000lb horse against your legs

Answer 16

soccer hands down.

Answer 17

boxing  

u have to have endurance to keep going power to hit and speed u also have to take hits be good on ur feet to move around a good core to take hits agility to be able to slip punches ya and more just ask a boxer they also have to examin ther oponents to pick up bad habits and good ones they have to watch for

o best answer

Answer 18

world war 3

Answer 19

Rugby Union actually burns more calories then any other team sport. I think marathon running burns the most.

Answer 20

jinx is right, it's hockey. Hockey has all of the end to end of action of basketball, all of the contact of football and its all done (forwards or backwards) on ice skates. In hockey, if you get injured, they might put stitches in you while you sit on the bench so you dont miss the next shift. Players play with arms in casts, most have missing teeth from taking slapshots in the mouth and lest I forget, it sometimes has all the physical abuse of boxing to boot.

Answer 21

Competitive Running...   You mention "take big hits" and "handle" and "consider tactics"...    But all of those aren't actually 'fitness' requirements.  SO...to answer the initial question, Competitive Running would be much more difficult.

-Tanner

Answer 22

Ever heard of Gaelic Football?

It's described at as mix of Basketball Volleyball, Soccer, & Rugby. No padding there either, although very physical!

You gotta have the skills, the fitness, the speed, the endurence... for 90 minutes!

Try that! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StcMJkQ80...

Best Sport ever!

V.

Answer 23

Depending on what position you play in rugby and at what level. The athletic ability for the average rugby player is quite high - but there are many uncoordinated types that do well in the sport (at lower levels).

Rugby is a short burst interval sport (whole body). Expect a interval ratio of about 1:1 - 1:2 (depending on level of play). Usual duration is 20-40 seconds (mid to high rate of intensity), but sometimes last a few minutes with little rest. American football may be the highest intensity, but a long duration of rest (unless the are using a 2 minute drill) - at that point they would be working as hard/harder than as anyone in sport (even boxers/wrestlers). You would be surprised of the fitness levels of American football players. If they were trained as rugby players for 6 months, they would surpass the fitness levels of rugby players. These are the best trained athletes (overall) in the world - by far. These guys are freaks of nature. There are dozens of Zin-Zans and Umagas in the NFL right now.

Hockey comes close, but you are rewarded with rest periods which are two or three times longer.

At the highest levels of soccer, I would imagine that most could run consecutive sub-5 minute miles after a brief rest. In rugby that may only be limited to a select few.

Soccer players are 90% poofters, fit ones though.

Answer 24

i've played rugby it's stupid and g*y

Answer 25

Believe it or not, synchronized swimming requires more physical fitness than any other sport. I think your rugby players would ground out well before the final splash.