Rugby vs American Football: Comparing Uniforms, Balls and Gameplay

People often think American football and rugby are the same sports with different names but that is far from the truth. See, there might be some similarities that may compel you to believe they are the same sports but everything about the gears, ball, rules and even fields is different between the two sports.

Rugby kits require fitted tough polyester fabric and are not as "stretchy padded fitting" as American football, where players can tackle whoever they want in the opposite team.

Furthermore, American football gears are meant for better airflow and breathability that's why their uniforms are not tapered body fitted like rugby. Read further, to understand the difference between rugby and American football apparel and equipment.

History: Rugby vs American Football Throughout Time

Historically, rugby was invented way before American football. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that American football was inspired heavily by rugby. Rugby, a sport played in England, was founded in 1823 whereas American football was created decades after rugby. Some experts even say, American football is a sport based not just on rugby but also soccer.

Owing to these facts, it's not really a surprise how many people still think american football vs rugby is not even a debate but just confusion regarding names in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Core Differences: Sportswear vs Uniforms

Since rugby and American football are not the same, their uniforms and gears also have some core differences.

Fabric Material:

Rugby teamwear jerseys are made either from polyester or poly-spandex fabric. These teamwears are designed to provide almost like compressional fitting but are slick enough so they can not be grabbed easily during a tackle.

American football on the other hand uses heavy duty and denser material such as double-knitted polyester or heavyweight nylon with mesh ventilation to withstand constant abrasion amongst players.

External Components:

Rugby gear lacks any heavy external components like pads and helmet with steel grills whereas American football gear have pads for thighs, hips and tail bone along with mouth guards and helmet.

These protections add a hefty weight to the gear.

Garments Feature:

Rugby jerseys feature a bar tack and silicone dots to prevent ripping and help players secure the ball in wet conditions. Meanwhile American football jerseys have heavy elastic sleeves around the biceps to prevent opponents from using the sleeves as a handle and many football pants feature internal pockets to hold plastic pads for thighs and knees.

Custom Teamwear: Rugby Jerseys and American Football Gear

Custom teamwears for both sports have limited options, not in the sense that only few embellishment can be used but rather many customizations are not viable for rugby and American football sportswear. The most popular personalization often chosen by youth clubs, teamwear retailers and rugby leagues are sublimation printing and logo embroidery.

Conclusion: Both Sports Are Different!

Rugby and American football are different in so many ways and it's also easy to understand why people often mistake one for another.

Rugby is a sport where discipline and grit matters a lot as compared to American football where focus and quick impact is required and custom tops such as rugby jerseys, and pants only have limited customization options including sublimation printing, logo and slogan embroidery, and methodical mesh placement.