Rugby vs. American Football: How Do Their Training Styles Differ?

When it comes to the world of sports, rugby and American football often draw comparisons due to their physicality and team-oriented gameplay.

A number of successful rugby players have even attempted to transition to a career in American football via the  NFL’s International Player Pathway program. For example, in April 2024, Travis Clayton, an English rugby union winger made headlines when he was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the final round of the NFL Draft.

However, when we dive into the specifics of how athletes in these sports train, some differences emerge. Using Firstbeat big data, we analyzed and compared the training styles of men’s rugby and American football players, read on to see what we found.

 

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Rugby Players

Rugby demands a combination of speed, endurance, and tactical execution. Our data reveals that rugby players train with a focus on sustained intensity over longer periods.

Specifically, they maintain a high Movement Intensity, measured as the average Movement Load per minute, over 30-minute intervals.

This training approach emphasizes aerobic endurance and speed, crucial for the continuous and dynamic nature of rugby matches where players are constantly on the move, covering large distances, and making quick decisions.

American Football Players

In contrast, American football is characterized by short, explosive plays with frequent pauses. The training for football players mirrors this style, focusing on high-intensity bursts that last less than 10 seconds.

While these players also prioritize speed, their training is geared more towards power and explosive strength, with less emphasis on sustaining high intensity over longer periods. This interval-based approach aligns with the stop-start nature of football, where each play demands maximum effort for a brief moment, followed by recovery.

These insights highlight the tailored approaches each sport takes to prepare its athletes, reflecting the unique demands of the games.

Rugby’s continuous play requires a steady output of energy and stamina, while American football’s explosive movements necessitate training that builds raw power and quick recovery.

How does your team’s training stack up against these findings?

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