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At first glance seem American Football and rugby are very similar – both sports are VERY physical and involve a lot of running. It is therefore not surprising that rugby and American football are often confused with each other.
There are more differences than similarities between rugby and American football. Apart from the rules being different, the two sports also differ in terms of playing time, origin, field size, equipment, ball and a number of other things.
To gain a better understanding of both sports, it is important to understand these fundamental differences.
If you are wondering what exactly the differences (and similarities) are between the two sports, you will find all the information in this article!
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 American football vs rugby – origin
- 2 American football vs rugby – the equipment
- 3 American football vs rugby – the ball
- 4 What are the rules of American football?
- 5 What are the rules of rugby?
- 6 American football vs rugby – number of players on the field
- 7 American football vs rugby – playing time
- 8 American football vs rugby – field size
- 9 American football vs rugby – who throws and catches the ball?
- 10 American football vs rugby – scoring
American football vs rugby – origin
Let's start at the beginning. Where exactly do rugby and American football come from?
Where does rugby come from?
Rugby originated in England, in the town of Rugby.
The origins of rugby in England go back well into the 19s or even earlier.
The Rugby Union and Rugby League are the two defining forms of the sport, each with its own rules.
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 by representatives of 21 clubs – all based in the south of England, most of them in London.
By the early 1890s, rugby was rife and over half of the RFU's clubs were then in the north of England.
The working classes of Northern England and South Wales were particularly fond of rugby.
Where does American football come from?
American football is said to have evolved from rugby.
British settlers from Canada are said to have brought rugby to the Americans. At that time, the two sports were not as different as they are now.
American football originated (in the United States) from the rules of the Rugby Union, but also from football (soccer).
American football is therefore simply referred to as “football” in the United States. Another name is “gridiron”.
Before the college football season of 1876, “football” first began to switch from soccer-like rules to rugby-like rules.
The result is two different sports – American football and rugby – both of which are worth practicing and watching!
American football vs rugby – the equipment
American football and rugby are both physical and hard sports.
But what about the protective equipment of both? Do they agree on that?
Rugby lacks hard protective equipment.
Football is used protective gear, among which a helmet en shoulder pads, an protective pants en mouthguards.
In rugby, players often use a mouthguard and sometimes a protective headgear.
Because so little protection is worn in rugby, a lot of attention is paid to learning the correct tackle technique, with a view to personal safety.
In football, hard tackles are allowed, which requires the use of protective equipment.
Wearing this type of protection is a (necessary) requirement in American football.
Read also my review of the best back plates for American Football
Is American football rugby for 'whimps'?
So is American football for the wimps and rugby for the 'real men (or women)'?
Well, it's not that simple. Football is tackled much harder than rugby and the sport is just as physical and tough.
I myself have been playing the sport for years and believe me, football is not for the faint of heart compared to rugby!
American football vs rugby – the ball
Although rugby balls and American football balls look identical at first glance, they are in fact different.
Rugby and American football are both played with an oval ball.
But they are not the same: the rugby ball is larger and rounder and the ends of the two types of ball are different.
Rugby balls are about 27 inches long and weigh around 1 pound, while American footballs weigh a few ounces less but are slightly longer at 28 inches.
American footballs (also called “pigskins”) have more pointed ends and are fitted with a seam, which makes it easier to throw the ball.
Rugby balls have a circumference of 60 cm at the thickest part, while American footballs have a circumference of 56 cm.
With a more streamlined design, a football experiences less resistance as it moves through the air.
While American football players launch the ball with an overhand movement, rugby players throw the ball with an underhand movement over relatively shorter distances.
What are the rules of American football?
In American football, two teams of 11 players face each other on the field.
Attack and defense alternate depending on how the game develops.
Below in brief the most important rules:
- Each team has 11 players on the field at once, with unlimited substitutions.
- Each team gets three time-outs per half.
- The game starts with a kick-off.
- The ball is generally thrown by the quarterback.
- An opposing player may tackle the ball carrier at any time.
- Each team must move the ball at least 10 yards within 4 downs. If that doesn't work, the other team gets the chance.
- If they succeed, they get 4 new attempts to move the ball 10 yards further.
- The main objective is to score points by getting the ball into the opponent's 'end zone'.
- There is one referee present plus 3 to 6 other referees.
- The quarterback can choose to throw the ball to a receiver. Or he can pass the ball to a running back so that he or she tries to get the ball forward while running.
Here I have the complete game course (+ rules & penalties) of American football explained
What are the rules of rugby?
The rules of rugby differ from those of American football.
Below you can read the most important rules of rugby:
- A rugby team consists of 15 players, divided into 8 forwards, 7 backs and 7 substitutions.
- The game starts with a kick-off and the teams compete for possession.
- The player in possession of the ball may run with the ball, kick the ball, or pass it to a teammate to the side or behind him. Any player can throw the ball.
- An opposing player may tackle the ball carrier at any time.
- Once tackled, the player must immediately release the ball for play to continue.
- Once a team has crossed the opponent's goal line and touched the ball to the ground, that team has scored a 'try' (5 points).
- After each try, the scoring team has the opportunity to score 2 more points through a conversion.
- There are 3 referees and a video referee.
The forwards are often the taller and more physical players competing for the ball and the backs tend to be more agile and faster.
A reserve can be used in rugby when a player has to retire due to injury.
Once a player has left the field of play, he may not return to the field of play unless there has been an injury and no other substitutes are available.
Unlike American football, in rugby any form of shielding and hindering players who do not have the ball is not allowed.
This is the main reason why rugby is much safer than American football. There are no time-outs in rugby.
American football vs rugby – number of players on the field
Compared to American football, rugby teams have more players on the field. The roles of the players also differ.
In American football, each team is made up of three separate units: the offense, defense and special teams.
There are always 11 players on the field at the same time, because the attack and the defense alternate.
In rugby there are a total of 15 players on the field. Each player can take on the role of attacker and defender when needed.
In football, all 11 players on the field have very specific roles that they must strictly adhere to.
The special teams only come into action in kick situations (punts, field goals and kick offs).
Due to the fundamental difference in game setup, in rugby every player on the field must be able to both attack and defend at all times.
That's not the case with football, and you either play on offense or on defense.
American football vs rugby – playing time
The competitions of both sports develop in much the same way. But the game time of rugby versus American football is different.
Rugby matches consist of two halves of 40 minutes each.
In football, games are divided into four 15-minute quarters, separated by a 12-minute half-time break after the first two quarters.
In addition, there are 2-minute breaks at the end of the first and third quarters, as the teams switch sides after every 15 minutes of play.
In American football, a game has no end time because the clock is stopped whenever play is stopped (if a player is tackled or if the ball touches the ground).
Matches can last two or even longer than three hours. Injuries can also extend the overall length of a football game.
Recent studies have shown that the average NFL game lasts about three hours in total.
Rugby is much less idle. Only with 'out' balls and mistakes is there a break, but after a tackle the game continues.
American football vs rugby – field size
The differences between the two sports are small in this respect.
American football is played on a rectangular field that is 120 yards (110 meters) long and 53 1/3 yards (49 meters) wide. At each end of the field is a goal line; these are 100 yards apart.
A rugby league field is 120 meters long and approximately 110 meters wide, with a line drawn every ten metres.
American football vs rugby – who throws and catches the ball?
Throwing and catching the ball is also different in both sports.
In American football, it is usually the quarterback who throws the ballswhereas in rugby every player on the field throws and catches the ball.
Unlike American football, in rugby only side passes are legal, and the ball can be moved forward by running and kicking.
In American Football, one forward pass per down (attempt) is allowed, as long as it comes from behind the line of scrimmage.
In rugby you can kick or run the ball forward, but the ball may only be thrown backwards.
In American football, a kick is only used to pass the ball to the opposing team or to try to score.
In American football, a long pass can sometimes advance the game fifty or sixty meters in one go.
In rugby, the game develops rather in shorter passes to the front.
American football vs rugby – scoring
There are several ways to score points in both sports.
A touchdown (TD) is the American football equivalent of a try in rugby. Ironically, a try requires the ball to “touch” the ground, while a touchdown doesn't.
In American football, it is sufficient for a TD that the player carrying the ball causes the ball to enter the end zone (the "goal area") while the ball is within the lines of the field.
The ball can be carried or caught in the end zone.
An American football TD is worth 6 points and a rugby try is worth 4 or 5 points (depending on the championship).
After a TD or a try, teams in both sports have the opportunity to score more points (conversion) – a kick through the two goalposts and over the bar is worth 2 points in rugby and 1 point in American football.
In football, another option after a touchdown is for the attacking team to essentially try to score another touchdown for 2 points.
In the same sport, the attacking team can decide at any time to try to score a field goal.
A field goal is worth 3 points and can be taken from anywhere on the field, but is usually taken within the defense's 45-yard line in the fourth down (i.e. in the last attempt to move the ball far enough or to TD to score).
A field goal is approved when the kicker kicks the ball through the goal posts and over the crossbar.
In rugby, a penalty (from where the foul occurred) or a drop goal is worth 3 points.
In American football, a safety worth 2 points is awarded to the defending team if an attacking player commits a foul in his own end zone or is tackled in that end zone.
Read also my comprehensive review of the top 5 best chinstraps for your American Football helmet
