If we took our most athletic NFL players (Vick, Tomlinson etc..) and put together a Rugby team, let them practice for a year or so, how well do you think they would do vs. the best Rugby teams in the World? (Australia, England, New Zealand etc...)
I'm not considering time lost in the NFL, that is irrelevant for this question...
2007-02-22 07:47:29 · 13 answers · asked by auapc 2 in Sports ➔ Rugby
I put Vick in there because I can't see too many guys tackling him...
2007-02-22 08:00:25 · update #1
ooo good question actully i dont think the qb's wouldnt do all that well but the line men and running back would probaly dominate that is if they can take a hit with out pads the sheer size of american football players is overpowring in the scrums and i could see some of our running backs just flat out running over the top of some of the rugby guys the quater backs would really have no use but if the team was made outta end and backs and a few linemen for good measure i think they would own provided they got a years of practice in
2007-02-22 07:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now that is a good wish...emphasize on the word "wish". You cannot just take the most talented NFL players and train them for a year to meet the very best. You want them to get murdered. It's true that they are also considered tough athletes (NFL) but given the circumstances they probably wouldn't even beat the US rugby team. Majority of the world's top rugby players have been playing from a very young age and a full year isn't enough time to meet the criteria or even think about playing the top teams in rugby. Cut things short, They wouldn't last but will put up a tough fight (for the first fifteen minutes).
2007-02-22 18:29:08 · answer #2 · answered by jahstan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some very good athletes in the NFL, but 1 year is not enough to get them up to international standard. I think the players with the best chance of success would be defensive players, linebackers, corners and safeties. Offensive players are not used to tackling so much, and rugby has a lot of tackling. The other major problem would be substitutions. In rugby you can't come in and out of the game, so NFL players would have to get used to all that time spent on the field. But there is definitely the talent to play play rugby. The games are just too different to convert quickly.
2007-02-22 18:19:59 · answer #3 · answered by Bob Peppers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the biggest problem that would still exist after a year would be one thing!!!!!!!
Passing...
The whole mindset of the passing game in rugby is soooooo different and most NFL players don't pass the ball at all and more than half rarely handle a ball ever. 2 years of quality coaching and playing quality teams.
Most of the other aspects of play could be picked up in a year because of the athletic abilities. Kicking may not be the best either. (the kickers in the NFL rarly see contact - take note any good kickers that play rugby looking for a high paying job you can do at any age)
2007-02-22 11:10:58 · answer #4 · answered by wadecrptrng 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could hardly get an NFL player to sign autographs for three hours getting paid what these ruggers make in a year. I'm pretty sure! I think the NBA might actually be better at the rugby than the NFL, for their size, athleticism and endurance especially!
2007-02-24 04:55:14 · answer #5 · answered by Tim O 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be a pathetic display. With only a year of practice, the americans would be just starting to understand the tactics of the game. Whereas whichever team you put against them would tackle just as hard (or harder) run just as fast, and understand the game far better.
The NFL players would probably make a good B side, but athleticism and strength are secondary to tactical knowledge.
2007-02-22 09:36:45 · answer #6 · answered by mywaphel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They wouldn't have a chance. A professional rugby player can take up 10000 hours of training to get to a national standard. Also rugby is a very fast flowing sport unlike the stop/start regime in a American football, it would take alot of getting used to.
2007-02-22 09:45:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nfl rugby
2016-01-31 23:54:57 · answer #8 · answered by Maryjane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they would get rolled by a rugby team they are not fit enough. there is no way they could play offence an defence for 2 forty min with only 1 break. they cant even play 1 of them (offence/dfence) for 2 mins with out stopping the game and having a breather
2007-02-22 12:12:06 · answer #9 · answered by wassie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They might manage to beat Scotland ;-)
But seriously, they wouldn't stand a chance against any of the top 10 nations.
Quote from someone above:
"The sheer size of american football players is overpowring in the scrums"
I'd just like to point out to our American friends that there is a LOT more to scrummaging than size......... when I made the switch from hooker to tighthead prop, a lot of people thought I wouldn't make it, as I only weighed 95kg (5ft 9"). I proved them wrong!!!! Technique has a huge impact in scrummaging, as any front rower will tell you.
2007-02-22 16:28:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋