Who are the toughest atlethes, Rugby- or american football-players? ?

Question

I think both sports are both though.

Answer 1

American football is way tougher! The players are a lot larger on average. The speed is a whole lot faster and the hits are definatly harder! They wear pads so that they do not die during games. Have you ever heard the sound of a kick returner getting lit up on a return? Ever felt it?

Answer 2

Rugby League players are probably tougher than Union players, but American Football players are much tougher than either. The game is MUCH more violent and dangerous than either Rugby code. One reason is that Gridiron players are much bigger, stronger and faster than their Rugby equivalent positions. A frequent comment by people in my country (England) who know nothing about Gridiron is that, with all the padding, it's 'Rugby for pansies'. Of course, the reason for all the protection is precisely because the game is so violent and dangerous. I went to the NFL game in London last year and some of the hits were frightening.

The problem with this type of question is that most North Americans will choose Gridiron, and most non-Americans will choose Rugby, and neither usually has sufficient knowledge of both sports to give an informed answer. For the record, I played Rugby Union for my school for 7 years, and have been following the NFL since the early 1980s.

Answer 3

Rugby by a long shot.  I played football in HS and play rugby in college, and I can say from experience that the hits are just as hard and more frequent, and you must be in excellent shape to play the game.

The way I think you can determine the answer is by asking if a professional football player could jump in and play a rugby game, and that answer is probably not because of the conditioning.  If a rugger were thrown into a football game though, they could survive (although likely not play as explosive of a game).

Answer 4

i hard to answer this but American Football is tougher

Answer 5

rugby is a lot tougher than football. not only because there's no pads but also cause there's these things called scrums. there basically an offensive/defensive line without pads. i don't know about you but doing line drills without pads and in crappy english conditions would hurt alot more than doing it pads. by the way rugby players are about the size of college football players so that should tell you what its like.

Answer 6

american football is alot ruffer. harder hits and better athletes . they practice with the pads off. Besides every football player grows up playing tackle football and kill the man with the ball in the backyard. its nothin. but when you add pads and a helmet they actually become weapons as well as protection. you pretty much just get tackled in rugby where in football some guys don't even try to tackle you they just smash you with helmet and pads causing knock outs and stuff like that.

Answer 7

Yes, it is a funny coincidence and even funnier is that I've also asked a Jonas Brothers question not too long ago. Great minds think alike no?

Answer 8

both sports are cool but.....i think rugby players are tougher cuz rugby is A LOT rougher than football...wait..lets not forget they have no padding

Answer 9

I would say Football players. It's much harder then rugby. One thing is the blocking. In football you're allowed to attack an opponent who is not in possession of the ball, that makes the game harder for everyone on the field and not only for the ball carrier. Another thing is that you can tackle harder because of the rules, you always have to look for legs and have to be concentrated that noone breaks your neck, because you juked someone who wanted to take your legs out.

That's why I would say that Football players are tougher.