Do you think American NFL players playing rugby would make the USA challeneg for the world cup?

Question

Just seeing if we took all the athletes who played American football and taught them how to play rugby, would we be able to compete at a high level (with the Springboks, All Blacks, etc...) internationally

Answer 1

football and rugby are VERY different games being a similar oval ball the only thing in common. the training for both games are completelly different, Rugby is aerobic and football is anaerobic. A football line man will never stand running and pushing with non-stop for eighty minutes.

Answer 2

I don't think that NFL players could cross over, as NFL is not as prolonged play as rugby, i.e its start/stop a lot more than rugby so they would struggle to cope, plus could they take all the knocks without padding??

Answer 3

I think they would get their tales kicked.  They don't train like rugby players, they wear pads, and I think the first time some one went to put vaseline on their ears they would freak out when they learned why.  NFL players are a bunch of overpayed primadonnas.  They couldn't handle a real mans sport.

Answer 4

I think they would be. They would just need time to learn the game. OK you ask a simple question so why does everyone have to put down american football players. It is a completely different game. Rugby is a game that takes endurance and NFL is start and stop however, just because they wear pads does not mean they are any less athletic then anyone else. I challenge anyone who puts down american football to give it a try. Put on a set of pads weighing in access of 20 pounds and get hit by a 265 pound linebacker that bench presses 600+ pounds and can run a 40 yard dash in less then 5 seconds. So dont dog it before you try it.

Answer 5

If anyone here in the USA actually cared about Rugby (or even soccer) we could easily rally the support for a great team, but nobody does, and it doesn't look too promising in the future. So to say we're scared or can't endure Rugby is just completely stupid. Anyone dare play us in our football? I'm sure anyone would just get wasted because the effort we put into making those athletes the best they can be and we certainly could, if we wanted, make a Rugby team of that calibur as well.

Answer 6

Outside of all the asinine answers from you funny talkers "I couldn't stop laughing..."  "they'd be too scared without their pads" etc.  If Americans were brought through the development ranks for rugby as they are for American football, we would absolutely be contenders for the world cup every time, no doubt about it.  The fact of the matter is in the US, Rugby is a second (if not third tier) sport, we get no coverage on any sports network, no televised games, and no professional leagues...granted it's finally coming around and changing with more exposure for the US Superleague, as well as the NA4, but for most people Rugby isn't introduced to them until college, which to develop a player is about 10 years too late.

If you're speaking strictly a transition from NFL to rugby, it would never happen due to the multimillion dollar contracts at risk today.  But simply to entertain the question, I think it would make some difference if they started training today until the world cup.  With NFL players I believe we would have a very good shot at making it out of our pool, but would probably have an early exit in the tournament.  Really to be honest, if our own players could practice together as one unit from now until the world cup it would help a ton as well, but since the US team doesn't assemble more than a week or two at a time with month-2 month gaps in between, it's difficult to get a team to play together as well as the 'boks or the All blacks.  

I slightly agree with you prop forward- good history truth, unfortunately American football in 1924 and American football today are completely different sports, American football in 1924 was much more similar to rugby, being as the latter birthed the former about 20 years prior.  Today American football players would deal death blows in tackles to many rugby players from other countries, but to tackle, ruck, scrum and chase kicks for territory in a match for 80 minutes straight is an entirely different monster, which few to no American football players are conditioned for, but in the 20s with "Iron Man football" no TV timeouts and a much quicker game pace they were a great deal of help.

Answer 7

I'm sorry, I can't seem to stop laughing.

But honestly--the answer would be NO.

Answer 8

No, NFL players are in good shape but not good enough for 80 minutes of up and down the field action. Expecially the front lines. The wide receivers and running backs could keep up but it is a very different sport.

Answer 9

Not necessarily.    Rugby is 40 mins of CONTINUOUS play, in each half with 5mins half-time break (no more by Law).

No time-outs, planned or otherwise, except for removal of seriously injured player(s).   Hence 'teaching them how to play' would have keep pace with developing stamina for continuous play.   Changing the 'mind set' from A.Football; set plays being replaced by a more fluid sequence of spon-taneous actions and reactions, so, a set piece resulting from play stoppage, kick-off, scrum, line-out, would then be followed a series of spontateous actions and reactions

Answer 10

two years ago Wales played the Eagles which included some American football players in the team, unfortunatly they were well beaten by players that were physically smaller but mentally smarter after all 9 times out of 10 brains win over brawn

Answer 11

I have watched Rugby before and half the game the players are walking.  If the ball wasn't on there side of the field they were taking there time, so conditioning won't be a problem.  The thing to consider is that these football players were the best athletes in all sports at a young age.  They are certainly large enough and fast enough and disciplined enough.  If they wanted to, they would be the best of rugby just as they are with football.  Look at there size:  Brian Urlacher is 6-4 and 260, Terrell Owens is 6-3 and 225, and Jeremy Shockey is 6-5 and 250.  These are 3 players that play 3 different positions.  They would be the fastest and strongest players on the field.  We are talking about 3 players that run in the 4.5 range on the 40 yard dash.  It won't ever matter because unfortunately rugby doesn't pay premier athlete prices so it won't ever have those caliber athletes.

Answer 12

Look at the type o gear the nfl players wear, they have a really bad centre o gravity, all they need is a small hit and there knocked over they wouldnt be able to stand rugby tackles

And anyway no theyre 2 total different sports it takes a heck o alot o training to come even close to the likes of  The All Blacks, Ireland, Australia etc...

Answer 13

They would probably be too scared without all the protection... It might be too complicated for their small brains as well.

Answer 14

It's possible that adding NFL players, at least the right ones, would greatly boost the potential for the Eagles.  Historically, it has worked out quite well.  In fact, the last time rugby was in the Olympics was in 1924, and the American team filled out its ranks with football players, and the physicality of play of the team was greatly improved.  In fact, not only did it make for a more threatening team, they went on to trounce the French team for the gold, 17-3.  In fact, the chief winger for the French side got hit 3 times, and after the third time he was carted off in a stretcher, and he was supposed to be the fastest back in the world at the time.  There's no doubt the Eagles would do well to give it the old college try, and a lot of us here in the states get into rugby in college when we can't get onto the football teams, or find something to replace football with.  I don't think there's anyone on my team that hasn't played football.

Answer 15

No they would think the game is too much like football and most nfl players are to fat to play

Answer 16

Only if they are on regular tv and are getting paid.  Free Market economy. If it will make money, america will win.