Comparison Of American Football And Rugby League
A comparison of American football and rugby league football can be made because of their shared origins, resulting in similarities and shared concepts in terms of scoring and advancing the ball. Aside from Canadian football, rugby league is the sport most similar to American football. Both sports involve the concept of a limited number of 'tackles'/'downs', and in both sports scoring 'touchdowns'/'tries' takes a clear precedence over goal-kicking.
Generally, American football games last much longer than 80-minute rugby league matches. Because the field is reset after each tackle in American football, it is much slower paced than the more hectic rugby league, in which play stops for only as long as it takes the tackled player to get back to his feet and return the ball to play. Another major difference is that only the player with possession of the ball may be interfered with in rugby league. Defending players interfering with any other attacking player (and vice versa) will incur a penalty. Passing in the two sports also differs: while backward passing is common to both sports, in American football players are in some cases allowed to throw the ball forward whilst in rugby league forward passing is always illegal—one is only allowed to pass the ball backwards. To advance the ball downfield, a player may kick, but all offensive players must be behind the kicker if they are to be involved in the next play. If the player is in front of the kicker then he is considered offside.
Another obvious difference is the players' attire, with helmets, gloves and large amounts of padding around the body being the norm for American football. Comparatively little padding (if any) is used in rugby league, with a small fraction of players opting for light headgear as hard helmets are not allowed.
The defense owns a major advantage in rugby - tackling is allowed but blocking is forbidden, making for a very bruising game.
“ ” The Sumter Daily Item, 28 August 1971Read more about Comparison Of American Football And Rugby League: Origins, The Field, Players, Advancing The Ball, Passing, Tackles and Blocks, Scoring, Cross Code Matches, Gridiron Rugby
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