Why Rugby is Better Than Football - A Rugby Fan’s Case
The football versus rugby debate has long led to comparisons between both sports. While football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world, there are lots of controversies and aspects to the sport which have deterred newcomers to the beautiful game, or even made long-term fans rethink whether it is the sport for them.
The debate as to which sport is better - or why is rugby better than football - ultimately runs down to preference, and factors such as upbringing, accessibility to local teams, and a sense of prolonged loyalty to the sport are all elements that may sway your decision. Ultimately, an opinion cannot be wrong - unless you believe football is better than rugby.
The points scoring factor
In a football game, there is one goal: the goal itself. During a match, you can only score a point by making the ball cross the goal line. While simple, it severely limits the scope of tactics and strategies.
On the other hand, in a rugby match- in both rugby union and league - there are several ways to score a point:
Try - 5 points
A try is scored when the ball is touched on the ground past the opponents’ goal line in the in-goal area.
If a player suffers foul play by the opposition, a penalty try is awarded, which is worth seven points, without the points for conversion.
Penalty - 3 points
If awarded a penalty following an infringement by the opposing team, a team may opt to kick the ball over the crossbar and between the posts - the success of which leads to 3 points awarded.
Conversion - 2 points
Following the scoring of a try, the same team can attempt to extend their points tally by two further points by kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the posts.
Drop goal - 3 points
When a player kicks for goal while the ball is in open play, a drop goal is awarded. This is done by dropping the ball onto the ground and kicking it on the half-volley after it hits the ground.
The various means of scoring points mean that the natural progression and tactics in a rugby game are naturally more vast than in football. In rugby, teams on the offence have to try and find the most points using their capabilities and managing the defensive team’s abilities - who have to try and tactically reduce the possibility of conceding any of the above points.
In football, while there are various tactics, these are either for the purpose of ball progression or formation, all in the hope of scoring more goals than the opposition, making it a very one-dimensional sport.
Rugby fans create a more inviting atmosphere
Football has an infamous reputation for its fans. While the days of football hooliganism have mostly dissolved in the UK, there are still a lot of spiteful atmospheres in stadiums before, during and after a football match.
Football tribalism is a huge part of the culture - representing your team’s colours is an easy way to engage in lighthearted debate, but it often spills into humour that is aimed to offend, rather than incite healthy banter.
By contrast, the atmosphere in a rugby match is embedded in camaraderie. Fans of opposing teams are mixed in the stands, and while you are encouraged to cheer for your team, offensive chants and constant taunting do not have a place.
Rugby fans are generally much more responsible too - the fact you can sit next to a fan of the opposing team in the stands and both enjoy the game speaks volumes about the culture that has long been associated with the sport. You are much more likely to enjoy a game if you know that everyone is having fun, which is a huge reason why many prefer rugby.
Greater respect
The respect that you find in rugby isn’t limited to the stands; there is a clear gulf between the respectful attitudes of rugby players and football players.
In rugby, just as in football and most sports, there is a referee. Their role is to ensure the laws of the game are adhered to and maintain a fair game throughout. If the rugby referee makes a decision, whether controversial or not, you will seldom see players lamenting - and hardly ever shouting - at the referee. Perhaps this is aided by the sin-bin rule, which is that players guilty of a yellow card offence must sit on the sidelines for ten minutes - something that no professional player wants to do.
In football, respect towards the referee is non-existent from the stands, and even less so on behalf of the players. A referee will expect to receive a tirade of abuse for 90 minutes, and for the days following until the next match.
Respect is an integral part of any sport, and goes a long way to prove why rugby is better than football.
Unclassy by association
The perception of football fans is, fair to say, much different than their rugby counterparts. TOFFS explored the associations that the British public makes with both sets of fans, with predictable results.
Over 90% of respondents associated football fans with negative terms such as aggressive, uneducated, disrespectful and out of control.
On the other hand, more than 85% used terms such as well-behaved, welcoming and classy to describe rugby fans.
Such attitudes stem from a long history of troublemaking behaviour on behalf of football supporters, once again giving a reason why rugby is the better sport!
Find out more
The rugby experts at TOFFS regularly produce detailed information and content around the latest rugby news from a rugby fan’s standpoint. If you want to learn more about rugby, visit The Terrace.
Alternatively, if you want to find high-quality replica rugby shirts across all eras, be sure to browse our range here.
