How come Rugby players dont wear any kind of protection?

: How come Rugby players dont wear any kind of protection?
Just wondering since in America the football players wear a lot of protection, while Rugby players don’t have helmets or shoulder pads? Rugby seems more badass than football.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Ryanvaa
In rugby they have more rules about where you tackle them and in american football they don’t have such rules I’m not sure but I play rugby and in my opinion I say rugby players are real men not american football player pansies

Answer by blm
A question which just demonstrates ignorance about the American game. The nature of the downs-for-distance system which that sport uses leads to far more violent contact than in rugby. An inch or two can mean the difference between keeping or losing the ball in the American game, which means defenders use their bodies as projectiles to stop the runner’s forward momentum. Totally unlike the system of tackling used by rugby, where your aim is to poach the ball after the tackle rather than just stop the runner cold.

The American game became so dangerous in its early form, that in a single year (1905) 19 college players were killed on the field. The number who were “merely” crippled numbered in the dozens. Most of the deaths were caused by skull fractures, so at that point the helmets became manditory. Rugby has (thank goodness) never had to deal with that sort of situation

Unfortunately the helmets only do so much good. Retired NFL players have a horrific incidence of early-on set dementia and other concussion-related conditions. They also tend to die quite young, often in their fifties. The NFL is currently facing a major law suit launched by a number of retired players on exactly that point.

Edit: no Larry. It’s not like League. League gives you six downs to score. Inches mean nothing on a 100 metre pitch. American football gives you four downs to move the ball ten yards. If you are six inches short after the third down you (generally) punt the ball away or attempt a field goal.

Or put it another way. Have you ever seen field officials on a League pitch bring on a set of chains to measure the position of the ball? It happens in American football quite frequently..

Answer by mj fetherston
well in american football they take more heavy hits and the head on collisions have a lot to do with it.

Answer by heki
Protective gear is worn mostly by players who have some type of injury,but! there are some who wear headgear all the time(but its nothing like a helmet)but nothing like the NFL stuff,all i can say is
that i have never used it in over 35yrs of 1st Grade Rugby.

Answer by Cole
Yes rugby is more bad ass i play we dont wear protection like american football because we dont want to look gay but some people do wear shoulder pads, scrum cap, etc

Answer by Napes
First of all Rugby players do wear protection (shoulder pads & on occasion leather helmets). Tackles in American football are a lot more high impact and often head to head or helmet to helmet. As BLM stated American football is way more violent due to the general rules of the game.

It’s a shame to read some Rugby fans calling American footballers “pansies” they are obviously ignorant and clueless about the sport. Any true fan who appreciates the physicality of Rugby would also appreciate the strength, speed and power of American football!

Answer by Larry
American Football requires pads while rugby doesn’t. However rugby does allow shoulder padding and scrum caps, even rib, knee and elbow protection. But rugby pads are soft foam type of gear. Sure there is the method of the game of Football where downs and inches are valued but that’s similar to Rugby League style of play and padding isn’t a big part of that game either. Once one guys puts on a hard helmet and shoulder pads everyone has to set up to that level of gear in American ball. But the actual protective value of American football pads is questionable because guys still get shoulders injuries, get concussions and worse injuries than usually seen in rugby.
In rugby contact between bodies doesn’t hurt like contact between a body and a metal face mask or a body and hard helmet. Rugby may seem tougher (and probably is) but it is also safer.
I’ve also heard that the gear in American Football is to increase the masculine look of the players, so they have bigger shoulders and bigger bodily forms and appear more masculine….

Answer by Aidan M
i like both but i play rugby. rugby i dont even think needs it because ive faced hard tackles and it only hurts at most for a minute, but american football i think needs it because it mostly involves people running into sometimes 7 defenders with a combined weight of well over 150st and the grounds in usa are a lot harder.

Answer by ScottRugby
You may not notice but Rugby players wear a Gum sheild in there mouth like american football, some people wear scrum caps and padding in rugby, but lot me stress this it gives NO WEAR NEAR the amount of protection as american football pads or helmets. Rugby is alot tougher no question about it, and im sorry if u disagree all the american football fans but rugby players spend 80 full mins of being in constand collision, constantly being tackled. Even though in football they use themselfs as projectiles to stop the runner dead, they get a rest as soon as the ball hits the ground, and the get a huge rest when the team changes from offence to defence, and an even bigger rest on top of thatt in between quarters, Rugby is alot more tough, rugby is for men

Answer by Barney Gumble
Perhaps this educational video by Beau Ryan can enlighten you. You may choose to view the whole video here

or go to the specific equipment section here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zgoOJd6-_gg#t=129s

Answer by Dudley Thumperton
Well the game might have been played after seeing a bunch of Samoans messing around on the islands. The Samoans are the largest people who today take over most of Rugby.

Answer by eagle
Ignorance. If you dont take into account what these other users are saying (which are correct).

Football players are protected by pads while Rugby players are protected by rules. Most football tackles are not allowed in rugby. Why? Because it would cause injury. And beeing protected by rules is much more safe than putting pads and taking the illegal rugby tackle. Eg. Shoulder to the head, head to head still causes a serious injury even with pads on. And football collisons will never occur in rugby because of rules.