American Football evolved from Rugby...better rules better athletes. As was stated before, if Football players did not have the pads they would have killed each other. Football is way more specialized than rugby, even the body types for various positions are different in Am. Football. I give rugby credit, for having great athletes. But way more money is spent on the Am. Football players ( from peewee to the pros), way more of a support industry (sports medicine, talent scouts, etc.) for Am Football, which translates to better athletes.
But in the words of Ronnie Coleman, "Apples and Oranges"
and by the way, that S. African dude is black, regardless if he is "coloured" (another word for mixed) it like the 1950's term of "Coloreds"---a person of color.