No! They differ in various ways, starting from the number of players, their equipment, evolution, rules for scoring, and many more. Let's figure out the characteristics in detail.
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Known as ‘Rugby Union,’ it originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, in 1823 when, during a game of football, William Webb Ellis decided to pick up a ball and run with it.
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The game evolved from the sports of rugby and soccer. The first game was played in 1869 between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton, using rules based on the rules of soccer at the time.
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The playing field for American football is the constant that is 100 yards long & 74-76 yards wide. Whereas the playing field of rugby varies from place to place, it is 122-134 yards long & 74-76 yards wide.
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With a larger pitch, Union Rugby has 15 players per side and 7 substitutions per game. In comparison, American football has 11 players per team.
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A major difference between the sports is the goalposts. American football goals are yellow and shaped like forks, while rugby posts are H-shaped and traditionally white.
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Rugby posts are positioned at the center of the goal lines at each end of the field, but American football goals are located at the back of the end zone, 10 yards behind the goal line.
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In American football, players wear a helmet, shoulder, chest, elbow, knee, hips & thigh pads, and a mouthguard. Meanwhile, rugby players wear a mouthguard, body padding, and skull caps.
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Rugby has a 100% higher injury rate. Players walk out of the field with bleeding noses and spinal injuries. However, superficial cuts, head injuries, and concussions happen much more frequently in American football.
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