Rugby vs. Football : A Comparison and Contrast

Rugby vs. Football: A Comparison and Contrast We have all seen a football game on TV, but not everyone has seen a rugby match. Based mostly in Europe, rugby is not a popular sport in the U.S. These two sports are similar in form, but the rules, equipment, and history behind each are very different. The rules of these similar yet vastly different games are extremely complex, so only the basics are necessary to distinguish the better sport. In football, the primary rule is that you must advance the ball forward by throwing it or running with it. Once a player with the ball is downed, the entire team lines up again, and the ball is snapped to the quarterback. Reaching the end zone is called a touch down and is worth six points, plus an extra point kick. Kicking the ball through the uprights is called a field goal and is worth only three points. The short pause in between each down may not seem si

With passing, though, you can only pass the ball backwards or directly to your side, never forward. Like football, you score by running the ball into the end zone or by kicking it through the uprights. If it passes through the uprights, it is worth three points, as in football. In medieval times, another form of football, calcio, was played in Italy. Around 1839, Cambridge University started developing rules and forming teams. They wear more protection and take less physical abuse than the rugby players. The ball is made up of an inflated rubber bladder, surrounded by stitched leather, and appears elliptical in shape. gnificant, but it definitely takes its toll on the excitement and pace of the game. The origins of football trace back to ancient Greece in where they played a form of football know as harpaston. In rugby, however, the primary rule is that you can only advance the ball by running with, kicking, or passing it. In fact the only equipment that are somewhat similar in both games can be found from the ankles down. The ball has an oval shape to it, and is fatter than a football so that it may easily be bounced and dropkicked. But rugby, being the true sport of men, uses no pads or helmets. Players wear a jersey, usually long-sleeved, athletic shorts, and cleats.