This should be the most popular team sport in the world....

[Coach is Back!]

still a Communist huh?

bench

No, I enjoy my freedom. unlike your president.

[Rami]

Ha! You call NFL a sport or athletic?

That's nothing!

[JP_RC]

The WFL should be the most popular team sport in the world!!     

[cannon_fodder]

Rugby. True athletes playing an extremely physical game with no helmuts and no padding (just a gum-guard).  Grid-iron is number one in the USA (which I also enjoy).... but rugby is a more global sport.

Rugby players have been wearing pads for a while now. Granted nothing like the NFL guys, but it makes a difference




I love the game, but IMO any elite NFL players trumps an elite rugby guy.

You said you played for WP back in the day yeah? I played a couple games for Border U/21.

[Mr. Zimbabwe]

Yes, well back in the day.  Not WP Senior teams ..... WP Under 21-B team mostly and the bench for the A team. I did have the privilage of training with top guys like Chester Williams and Bobby Skinstad.  That's as far as I got.  Border always had good teams.

PS --  I agree about the new padding.

[the_steevo_uk]

this debate goes on an on an on...the two sports are very different and the requirements in terms of fitness and skill sets are completely different. There is no kicking game in the NFL for a start, a hugely important part of modern day rugby (unfortunately). The Offensive players hardly ever have to tackle, there are no line outs or scrums or breakdowns at the area of contact. So like I said the skill sets are different.

I think the USA has a distorted view of rugby since its not a major sport and for guys who arent good enough for Pro Football, they forget that in other countries it is the national sport or very clearly the second sport and so has huge pools of players to choose from.

having said that the NFL churns out some high quality athletes on a regular basis, and I would say the average athlete in the NFL is better especially in terms of speed, than the average rugby player. But to say that rugby players are not top level athletes is a joke, for a start a Rugby player's fitness (especially a number 6 and a number 7) is far far higher than that of an NFL player, theyre as aerobically fit as soccer players yet carry 60-70lbs more weight. No NFL player is close to that.

[Mr. Zimbabwe]

habana vs peterson.  get the comparsions right.

Thanks for pointing that out G......

[Mr. Zimbabwe]

this debate goes on an on an on...the two sports are very different and the requirements in terms of fitness and skill sets are completely different. There is no kicking game in the NFL for a start, a hugely important part of modern day rugby (unfortunately). The Offensive players hardly ever have to tackle, there are no line outs or scrums or breakdowns at the area of contact. So like I said the skill sets are different.

I think the USA has a distorted view of rugby since its not a major sport and for guys who arent good enough for Pro Football, they forget that in other countries it is the national sport or very clearly the second sport and so has huge pools of players to choose from.

having said that the NFL churns out some high quality athletes on a regular basis, and I would say the average athlete in the NFL is better especially in terms of speed, than the average rugby player. But to say that rugby players are not top level athletes is a joke, for a start a Rugby player's fitness (especially a number 6 and a number 7) is far far higher than that of an NFL player, theyre as aerobically fit as soccer players yet carry 60-70lbs more weight. No NFL player is close to that.

Excellent post. Nothing to add.

[the_steevo_uk]

Excellent post. Nothing to add.

I have something to add...the holy trinity. 

[Howard]

G ....I don't deny that NFL athletes like Ray Lewis are exceptional. My point is just that I wish the American public enjoyed rugby as much at Grid-iron.  If guys like Ray Lewis, Drew Brees and Chis Johnson (Titans) played rugby then the USA would be the world's top team! But they don't. And Rugby just seems a much more exciting game?

By the way.... a guy like Ma'a Nonu would probably run through most NFL teams?

It is a culture thing , pure and simple. I am huge hockey fan , but realize those who didn't grow up with it are not going to be as big a fan as me. Same deal with rugby.

[Mr. Zimbabwe]

I have something to add...the holy trinity. 

Ahhh yes....rugby legends!!! ...with that famous pure-gold World Cup!  Good on ya, matey! Great times!!!!!!

[jtsunami]

grant you were featured video on redtube.com main site yesterday.

[jtsunami]

Yeah....it's gonna happen .....what can I do?     

lol i was just saying

[Oldschool Flip]

Receivers in the NFL have to catch balls traveling at 60+mph, and running backs have to run through tackles, have great agility and decent speed..............all while holding the ball.

But all in all the NFL is an American sport, watched by Americans, and rakes in huge dollars, media, sponsors, and also charity groups. As much as soccer and rugby are more popular around the world and in other countries, what the players make and the impact as sports pass time pales in comparison to the NFL which is unheard or unknown in many countries.

I like that America has it's own football and wouldn't have it any other way.

[gcb]

Grid Iron is only popular in the US - rugby is popular everywhere and is a much more flowing and dynamic game. NFL athletes as rugby players - wah - they would be out of puff in 5 minutes.

[benchmstr]

No, I enjoy my freedom. unlike your president.

i dont have a president...cause unlike you i know he isnt the one actually running the country...

bench

[G_Thang]

Grid Iron is only popular in the US - rugby is popular everywhere and is a much more flowing and dynamic game. NFL athletes as rugby players - wah - they would be out of puff in 5 minutes.

hahaha...nfl players were star rugby sandlot players before they put on the pads.

[ThaRealist]

I thought this was going to be about gang-banging a hottie....

[gcb]

hahaha...nfl players were star rugby sandlot players before they put on the pads.

I didn't see them winning any world cups - did you?

[phyxsius]

Grant if you think that guys like  Brian Habana could keep up with guys like Kevin Williams you are crazy man .
NFL players are the best athletes in the world period.

TOTALLY DISAGREE..

NFL players don't play for 80 minutes straight.. NFL players do not perform scrum or tackles after tackles.. NFL have their own set to offensive and defensive players..

Rugby players are both attacking and defending, run for 80 minutes straight, perform tackles after tackles in one play, do scrums, kicks...

Rugby players OWN NFL..

That's the truth

[jtsunami]

No, I enjoy my freedom. unlike your president.

I don't understand, President Barack Obama doesn't enjoy your freedom?  Last I checked the United States was still a free country and he is our president. 

[Coach is Back!]

i dont have a president...cause unlike you i know he isnt the one actually running the country...

bench

I don't have president either but even if he wasn't running the country the person who is is just as bad if not worse (Rahm Emmanuel) regardless they came from the same place, same politics. I'm sorry, who did you say you voted for OR did you even vote?

[Coach is Back!]

I don't understand, President Barack Obama doesn't enjoy your freedom?  Last I checked the United States was still a free country and he is our president. 

Last I checked you're an clueless moron who doesn't have a job, doesn't pay taxes and still lives off of her parents.

[PRIVATE RYAN]

I have something to add...the holy trinity. 

The holy trinity of ugly.

You need to add Graham Rowntrees'
ears and Martin "Kling-on" Johnstone,
then you would probably have the
ugliest fuckers who graced Twickers.



"I never saw Bakkies coming..."

[PRIVATE RYAN]

I agree with the Zimbo re:union.

That is why "Rugby is played in heaven"

CCC circa 1996