It's Top 5 time again, and this week we thought we'd continue along the lines of Rugby vs. American Football.

We know this will probably create some controversy, but we want to give you our Top 5 reasons why we think rugby and rugby league beat American football - hands down.

Of course, that may not be the case at all - but this is what we think, based on the research we've done on the topic lately.

Let the debating begin!

In American football, there are separate teams to handle the offence and defence, and even a 'special team' to take care of the goal kicking. Seems like a lot of people doing the same job that fifteen players (or thirteen in league) do in rugby!
In rugby, everyone plays offence and defence - from the biggest guy on the field to the smallest, no one can avoid making a tackle. Because of this, all players have to be ready to run with the ball, which means everyone needs to have a certain level of fitness - there's no room for 300 pound guys who can't run.
There's no one in rugby (or league) who can just stand there and block, like American footballers. You do that in rugby, and you're going to find yourself sitting on the bench real quick.

Rugby and rugby league have a far greater following around the world, and aren't confined to (virtually) one country like American football is. Further more, the two forms of rugby are growing internationally, which means a lot more people are watching and playing rugby than ever before.
American football is predominantly centered in the United States, and although it's played throughout Europe, it doesn't really have the following that rugby has in that region.
We don't deny the fact that in the States it dominates the sporting calender, but outside of USA - well, it hardly exists.

There can be no argument on this one - when it comes to goal kicking, rugby and league kickers are far more skillful than their American football counterparts. When a touchdown is scored in American football, the goal kicker lines up his shot at goal from right out in front of the posts - it doesn't matter where the touchdown was scored. Ok, so we understand that the kicker has to contend with the opposition trying to block him - but in the end, all he has to do is kick it straight.
In rugby, the goal kicker takes the shot at goal in line from wherever the try was scored - it doesn't matter if it's out in front, or from right out on the side lines. Therefore, it's not just a case of kicking it straight - they have to contend with the wind, and the angle of the kick, and they still have the opposition trying to charge down their kicks.

This one's pretty self explanatory as well - there ain't no pads in rugby or league.
We know that pads are a necessity in American football, based on the way they tackle - and that without them, there would be a lot of serious head injuries. But in rugby, and especially league, they don't wear massive shoulder pads or helmets, and yet they can still get tackled (and tackle) just as hard. Not only that, but they have to contend with rucks and mauls (and getting rucked off the ball), and they don't have the pads to protect them.

We're not talking about who tackles harder, because we can't deny the fact that American footballers hit extremely hard, and that some of their tackles are damn impressive. What we're talking about is the fact that in rugby, there is much more to tackling than just stopping the opposition dead in their tracks - the tackle is only the beginning of the battle. Once the tackle is made, you have to contend with the opposition trying to secure the ball, while trying to turn it over for your team. You've got players from both sides driving in trying to get the ball back on their side, and we won't even start on rucking.
It's such a vital part of rugby, and it keeps the game flowing from one phase to the other - rather than stopping every time to reset for the next play, like they do in American football.
While they may say they hit harder, at least they get to stop and catch their breath after every tackle.

There's no such luck in rugby.


Now, we don't want people to think we have some vendetta against American football - that's not the case at all. In fact, we actually love watching the NFL!

We're just trying to show you why we think, after looking into it fairly thoroughly, rugby is a greater, more skillful game.

Of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the debate! Head over to our forum, and say your bit.