Similarities Between Rugby and Football Perhaps the greatest similarity between the two sports is how players prevent their opponents from progressing down the field. Both football and rugby require a player to bring their opponent to the ground by tackling them, making the two sports among the most physical games in the world. oblong shaped ball, have to reach other teams “end zone” can kick through uprights for 3pts differences: rugby has no padding. Rugby must have passes sideways or backwards (not forwards) rugby has two 40 minute halves that count upwards like soccer.
