Australian football/rugby vs. the NFL

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May 8, 2006
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I have recently taken up a new sport, rugby, with a local club near my home in Jersey. I got interested in the sport by watching matches televised on t.v. every now and then at like 3 in the morning. For those of you who have never played it, find a club and join, you won't regret it. It makes the NFL look like pop-warner league.

Now, on to the topic of discussion. What I want to know from you guys, is whether or not you think that some of the worlds best rugby (and Australian football) players could potentially compete in the NFL. Feel free to post YOUR thoughts.
 

Kiwi

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I think most rugby players would be very competitive in the NFL as many of the fundamental aspects of both sports are similar - the running, catching and tackling techniques are basically the same. Rugby players would be capable of playing every position well except for perhaps at quarterback, as forward passing is illegal in rugby. The top backrow forwards in rugby (Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Schalk Burger etc.) would make ideal linebackers, Defensive ends and tight ends. Front row forwards could play O and D-Line (eg. David Dixon, former NZ highschool rep played as a Guard for the Vikings), and backs could play in any of the "skill" positions

A couple of good rugby vids:
Christian Cullen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cDMXSB1Mss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3evo_5D9Ac

2005 British lions tour to New Zealand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMHDtCUPzOI
 

Bronk

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First off, congratulations for taking up the second greatest sport in the world and the father of the first.

As an ex-rugger my own self I know some ruggers could play in the NFL. They have the speed, the toughness and the agility, they lack only one thing, DESIRE. Most of the Aussie, Brit and and South African ruggers I have met have a distain for American football (which they call gridiron).

I would dearly love to see some of those badass Aussie or NZ All Blacks to waylay some jive-ass crossing the middle for a pass.
 

devans

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Aren't we missing something here - as Eminem said let's get back to reality. The majority of top Rugby players (with the exception of a few French and English players) are not black.
If the Best college football receiver and award winner (Mike Hass) can't compete in the NFL what chance do these guys have of earning a roster spot?
 

Kiwi

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I think the issue is whether rugby players CAN compete, not whether they would be allowed to compete(well, the white players anyway.)

I guess you could end up up with a similar situation as the NBA has at the moment, as it seems that there is a significant amount of foreigners playing in the NBA
 
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