The popularity of both American football and rugby (union and league) is rising, with technology and investment allowing all three sports to flourish worldwide. The NFL in particular is making huge investments outside the United States, looking to expand its international reach. In rugby, the All Blacks have gained worldwide recognition, with the haka dance and exploits on the field gaining the respect even of non-rugby fans.
Further, the popularity of these sports has the potential to inspire a rise in virtual sports and virtual sports betting in both the United States and New Zealand. But first, let’s explore what sets each sport apart, and how many athletes are trying to make the jump from rugby to American football.
Rugby vs. American Football
Rugby and football are both super physical sports, with speed, size, and strength all coming in at a premium. Because they employ a similarly-shaped ball and gridiron setup, some assume they evolved concurrently, overlapping with each other, eventually forming a distinct sport.
However, each sport was developed separately, and all three (Rugby Union, Rugby League, and American Football) spawned from an early version of the rugby/soccer ball-playing game.
There are similarities in the three sports, such as the dimensions and type of ball used. The pitches or fields used do not differ much in size. The main aim of the game, to get to the other side with the ball, is also the same, but only in very broad strokes.
On the other hand, the differences between each are many. At first glance, you’ll notice that American football players wear padding and other protective gear. For rugby players, whether union or league, the most you’ll see are knee padding or head guards (which have to adhere to very specific regulations).
Scoring points are also not quite the same. In rugby, the ball needs to touch the ground. In football, it just needs to cross the line. In rugby, you get five points for a ‘try’ (in union), in football, it’s six points for a ‘touchdown’.
There is also a difference between union and rugby league; in fact they are two entirely different sports. First, the number of players. The rugby league has 13 players on the field, whereas the rugby union features 15.
Then, there’s scoring. As mentioned, in union, a try is worth five (with two for a conversion). In league, it’s four plus two. There is also a difference in how drop goals are handled. Tackling is also referred to in an entirely unique way, with the nuances of each sport determining what is deemed foul play.
Some players try to move between sports, but it’s not as easy as you’d think. Louis Rees-Zammit was one of the rising stars of rugby when he made the decision to quit the sport altogether to try making an NFL squad. It was a bold move for someone playing in big international tournaments for his country.
His attempts with Kansas City didn’t work out, and he’s now on the practice squad with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a far cry from his peak representing Wales in the Six Nations and World Cup. He still has a chance of making it, but it’s a long shot.
Overall, in the United States, rugby still has a relatively minor presence. Football is one of the four major sports, and it’s worth the most, too. American football is also becoming more popular abroad, with the Jacksonville Jaguars now playing a yearly series in London.
In New Zealand, rugby union is simply referred to as ‘rugby’, there is nothing else. It was introduced to the country in 1870, and it hasn’t looked back.
It’s now effectively the national sport, with the All Blacks becoming the country’s celebrities. Let’s just say that when New Zealand plays in the Rugby World Cup, you will be getting a lot of ‘Out of Office’ automatic replies.
Sprouting Beyond the Local Areas
Both football and rugby are experiencing growth in non-traditional places, with enclaves of fandom sprouting beyond the United States and New Zealand. The two most significant factors accounting for this geographical expansion are:
1) the realization by sports teams that they can expand their reach by investing abroad;
2) the advent of online streaming.
For example, it’s now possible to watch your favorite NFL team in New Zealand, simply by using a VPN or an online subscription. You get the American commentary, the full experience, just like you would in the United States. And vice versa, you can watch rugby union teams in the USA without a struggle.
Rise of Virtual Sports and Virtual Sports Betting
However, the growing popularity of both rugby and American football has contributed to the rise of virtual sports and virtual sports betting in both countries (and worldwide). Accessing virtual sports online operators is easier than ever. Also, they provide an alternative to watching NFL or rugby, and it’s also a bit of an amalgamation of video games and sports.
It’s, basically, a selection of scheduled fixed odds games (events) that use a random number generator (RNG) to decide the outcome. Their aim is to recreate the experience of being at the actual event. But with numerous advantages.
As you can read on New Zealand’s Sky City Online Casino page, the main advantage of virtual sports (especially when it comes to punters) is that you don’t have to deal with last-minute surprises. No injury reports of a star player right before the match starts, no shocking coaching decisions that affect the line-up, and cancellations will never get in the way of your accumulator. This means that, for example, New Zealand’s rugby union fans can enjoy their game without the unpredictability of real-world events impacting their wagers—something NFL and Rugby League fans can relate to as well.
With a world increasingly connected and brands realizing the potential of going beyond their backyards, we should see both rugby and American football widening their global presence. And with video games and iGaming both growing, the overlap between sports and these burgeoning industries will also increase.
