Similarities and Differences Between MLR and NFL

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In 2018, Major League Rugby had its inaugural season in North America. For the niche crowd that follows rugby in the region, it was an exciting year. Finally, a bona fide professional league. 

For traditional American football fans? They were a little confused. If they’d even heard of the league at all. If you’re an NFL fan, rugby isn’t usually on the radar. 

But the NFL and MLR have many crossovers that don’t make this an either/or decision. If you’re not quite sure what makes the sports different (other than the padding and commercial breaks), this guide should help you out.

The Differences: An Overview 

For the uninitiated, let’s go over some of the basic rule differences: 

    • Players. Rugby has 15 players on the field, NFL teams 11. 
  • Passing. In MLR, there’s no quarterback. In fact, you can’t pass it forwards except through a kick. You can only pass it laterally or backwards. 
  • Time. Rugby is split over two 40-minute halves. NFL is 4×15 minutes quarters. 
  • Blocking. Can’t do it in rugby. 
  • Rugby ‘carries on’. When there’s a tackle, rugby continues. It’s similar to soccer in that sense. In football, it’s a down. Players and coaches then work out the next play. 

 

In spirit, there’s one major difference between the two sports (not that England coach Eddie Jones sees it). Rugby generally requires more stamina, as the game is a continuous sequence. A single play can last several minutes, requiring athletes to be able to get through the slog. American football, on the other hand, there are timeouts and plays that are fast-paced, heavy-hitting, but often over in a matter of seconds. 

The two leagues require different qualities from the professional player. There are definitely some NFL players who just wouldn’t be able to handle rugby’s 80 minutes of hardcore action. But then again, there are few MLR players who possess the explosiveness of even the most average NFL running back. 

The two leagues do share this however: they’re both ultra-competitive, made up of stellar athletes that do some amazing things on the field of play. Both offer a battle to get the ball to the other end of the field, with creative passes, incredible hits, masterful plays, and often high-speed action interspersed throughout. 

NFL = #1 Football League in the World 

The NFL is the leading American football league on the planet. Heck, there’s an argument to be made that it’s the top professional sports league, period. And Major League Rugby? Not so much.

There’s no point trying to pretend that MLR is anywhere close to the NFL when it comes to the standard of play. While the best football players are all in the USA, MLR is still struggling to get top players to sign for their clubs. 

Not really a surprise, however. The NFL had a 100-year head start, and absolutely no competition. MLR has to contend with Top 14, Premiership Rugby, and Super Rugby. The North American league is a long way from being one of the top rugby competitions. 

But that doesn’t mean it won’t get there. The league is going through aggressive expansion, with three additional franchises being introduced this past season. We’re also seeing big-name players joining, with Ma’a Nonu and Tendai Mtarawira recently signing. 

“Show Me the Money!” 

The NFL destroys rugby when it comes to money. The NFL is the richest league in the world, beating juggernauts like Major League Baseball, the English Premier League, and AFL. 

Even though rugby has worldwide appeal, the NFL dominates American sport. And that translates into cash. A lot of it. You put together the top 10 highest paid rugby players on the planet, and you’re talking the NFL Veteran Minimum Salary. 

There’s just no comparison. And let’s not even put the numbers next to each other for the NFL and MLR. It would make the average MLR player cry. 

Rugby is Tough. But So is Football

Rugby fans like to tease ‘the other sport’ with the accusation that it’s for pansies. I mean, rugby players don’t wear those protective pads. They just hit each other in full power glory. 

But that’s an unfair take. 

Rugby players don’t wear helmets and pads because they don’t need to. The rules of the sport mean they don’t take the hits NFL players do. And NFL players get hit. Hard. If we’re talking about tackle G-force, football wins hands down (tests have shown this). 

So instead of arguing about which sport is ‘tougher’ (what does that mean, anyway?), enjoy each sport for what it offers. They’re both undeniably competitive, exciting, and require plenty of physical strength. 

Check MLR Out for Yourself (for Free!) 

If you’ve been intrigued by MLR and are willing to add something extra to your Monday Night viewing schedule, you can experience rugby 100% free. 

For Major League Rugby, you won’t be needing a Game Pass. It’s all gratis on YouTube. The league is obviously still in its infancy and is wanting to get the word out. So for now, you won’t need to pay any expensive cable subscriptions or pay per view subscriptions. But the league is growing. Enjoy it while it lasts! 

 

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