Football Face-off: American Football vs. Rugby Football

Some scholars say that rugby football is a breakaway from soccer. However, the sport is more commonly associated with American football because of the characteristics they share. Ball handling and scoring, for example, are similar for both sports. Perhaps the close resemblance to American football helped rugby gain popularity in the United States.

To be accurate, both American football and rugby football were derived from soccer. They are separated from their predecessor and each other by a slight modification in rules and regulations. The differences between the two are so minute that only a close inspection will reveal them.

American football and rugby football differ by the number of players allowed on the field during regulation time. The former can field 11 players at one time, with an unlimited number of substitutions. The latter allows 15 players with only seven or less substitutions.

There is also a difference in the amount of protective gear the players wear. American football players wear full pads, helmets, and other protective accessories. This reduces the impact they experience during tackles and piles. On the other hand, Colorado youth rugby players wear only light padding in certain parts of the body for agility and speed. In some leagues, though, no padding is used. The most protection players can get come from their mouth guards.

Another factor that separates the two sports—although not by much—is the ball they use. They both use balls that are prolate spheroids. American footballs are a few centimeters longer than Denver rugby footballs, but the latter have greater circumference. The earliest versions of each were made of pig bladders, which is why a football is often referred to as ‘pigskin.’ Modern footballs are made of leather or other synthetic materials.

The main objective of the two types of football is to score points by delivering the ball to the specified area—similar to their parent sport soccer. In American football, this is called a touchdown. In rugby football, this is called a try. American football players have to cover a wider distance to do this than Denver rugby club players because their playing field is bigger.

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