Originally Posted by Phoenix

The hits aren't as big, and the players not as sizeable, but they're faster, as a team (I know some HB's would be faster than wingers, but as a team, they're not). Am. football uses the padding as a weapon, because being hit by a 300lb man in body armour is like being hit by a car. Whereas being hit by a man running at you is exactly that. Plus, rugby has more stringent rules on tackling, as opposed to Am football, where more is allowed, because of the protection.

They're different games, and each good in their own right and people ought to stop saying "rugby players are harder because they don't wear armour", or "American football players are harder because they're stronger". At the end of the day, they play diff sports and a rugby team playing Am. football would be crushed, and likewise vice versa.