My brother, my fellow American, my friend, rugby is the more intense athletic endeavor.
You have definitely zeroed in on the point that makes football more intense, the big impacts.
Despite rugby having 2-3x higher injury rates, football dwarfs it in fatality rates by like 6x.
However, when you account for the deaths from heat stroke and heart attack caused by overworking a bunch of hypertensive fat dudes (“indirect causes”), they’re about equal.
Football just isn’t as athletically demanding and doesn’t inflict as much constant punishment. It’s entirely about that one big BOOM
Besides, I’m a Bears fan, so I’ve seen plenty of footage of Dick Butkus’ hits.
You know, years ago I saw a bit on a UK NFL show where they had a couple of rugby players and a couple of NFL players try each others’ sports.
The NFL players came out of the experience saying “Hell, that game is brutal. They’re big guys and they hit hard, and they don’t wear any padding. No thanks!”
The rugby players came out of the experience saying “Hell, that game is brutal. You’ve got the pads, sure, but that just means everyone hits each other harder! No thanks!”
Search “brutal NFL hits” on YouTube and tell me again why you think a bunch of dudes on their knees hugging and playing reverse tug-of-war is manly
My brother, my fellow American, my friend, rugby is the more intense athletic endeavor.
You have definitely zeroed in on the point that makes football more intense, the big impacts.
Despite rugby having 2-3x higher injury rates, football dwarfs it in fatality rates by like 6x.
However, when you account for the deaths from heat stroke and heart attack caused by overworking a bunch of hypertensive fat dudes (“indirect causes”), they’re about equal.
Football just isn’t as athletically demanding and doesn’t inflict as much constant punishment. It’s entirely about that one big BOOM
Check the community, Chuckles!
Besides, I’m a Bears fan, so I’ve seen plenty of footage of Dick Butkus’ hits.
You know, years ago I saw a bit on a UK NFL show where they had a couple of rugby players and a couple of NFL players try each others’ sports.
The NFL players came out of the experience saying “Hell, that game is brutal. They’re big guys and they hit hard, and they don’t wear any padding. No thanks!”
The rugby players came out of the experience saying “Hell, that game is brutal. You’ve got the pads, sure, but that just means everyone hits each other harder! No thanks!”
Perfect summation, only people saying one is tougher than the other do so from the other side of the TV screen.
Yeah I was just returning the energy of the first armchair expert, honestly. Rugby is hardass, too.
For sure, I was just coming in with a tush push.
Haha good shit
Rugby players dont wear body armour.
NFL football players use that armor as a weapon…
Perhaps, but the whole uniform is so homo-erotic even the ancient Greeks would find it a bit much.
It’s possible. I would not argue against you. But most sport has those elements.