Some say it is the ultimate gentleman's game and others say it is completely barbaric. Anyway you put it, rugby is under appreciated here in the United States. Perhaps we find rugby inferior to football and that is why it is often overlooked. The two sports are comparable and rugby is just as good as football when we get down to it.
Rugby players have to be just as tough as football players. In my opinion, they're tougher. Football players wear pads on their upper and lower body, as well as hard helmets. Rugby players wear shin guards, a mouth guard, and sometimes, in some leagues, some sort of soft helmet. Just like football, rugby is a full contact sport. Rugby players take hits just as hard as the ones football players do and get up and continue playing. Bruises, separations, fractures and all. Rugby players are the complete opposite of the word wimp. Watch a game of rugby and watch a game of football; rugby players have more strength and endurance. I love football and am not trying to knock the players, their athleticism or the game itself, but a rugby player's determination is irrefutable.
Another reason rugby is a great sport and a reason I say they have more strength and endurance is they play nonstop for 40 minutes, in two halves.. That is in comparison to stopping in football, what, like every five to 10 seconds!? Each player in rugby has the same job and does the same thing on field. They all have to run, tackle and take the hard hits. NFL players usually have one specified job and can focus solely on the job of their position.
Rugby is popular and appreciated in countries such as Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland and Italy. Perhaps the reason is those countries don't have American football like we do. Rugby players are tough and have immense amounts of endurance and strength, yet the sport is under appreciated here in our country. If you ever have the chance to watch a rugby match or attend one, take the opportunity and witness some of the toughest gentlemen.
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