NFL v. NRL

This is a guest contribution from Gene Goodsell.  Gene has a law degree with honours, a business degree and is currently Manager of Legal & Business Affairs for one of the leading international sports management agencies in Australia, as well as being a football agent.

With the impending launch of the NRL (National Rugby League) USA next year, now is an ideal time to examine the differences and similarities between the NFL and the NRL.

Apart from Canadian football, rugby league is the sport which is the most similar to American football.

The field: The NFL is played on similar rectangular field to the NRL. In the NRL, there are goal posts in the shape of the letter “H” at the goal line – these are used (in order of frequency) for conversions, penalty goals and occasionally, drop goals.

The players: There are 11 players on the field in the NFL at any one time and 13 in the NRL. A major difference is that in the NRL, it is the same players have to defend and attack. NRL players are fess specialised than those in the NFL.

Territory: In the NRL, a team has 6 tackles in which to score before handing over possession to their opponent. There is no automatic way of keeping possession of the ball after 6 tackles in the NRL, unlike in the NFL. Once  a player who has possession of the ball is tackled in the NRL, there is only a brief stoppage.

The ball can’t be passed forward in the NRL and can only be advanced by players running with it or kicking it ahead and chasing it. There is usually more kicking involved in the NRL and players who don’t have the ball can’t interfere with each other.

Points: A touchdown in the NFL is the equivalent to a try in the NRL. Ironically, a try requires the ball to be touched down the ground. There have been proposals for the touchdown to replace the try in the NRL, due to the injuries associated with defenders risking arm and limb to prevent the ball from being grounded. In the NRL, there is a 2 point conversion following a try. A conversion can’t be charged down and must be taken from the same position as the try was scored.

There is no concept of a safety in the NRL, rather, if a ball carrier is tackled in the endzone (in-goal area) with the ball, the ball carrier’s team has to kick the ball back to the opposing team from under the posts.

The NRL has a lot in common with the “old school” NFL. Amongst other things, the NRL is more spontaneous and less planned than the NFL, the players wear minimal protection and have 6 “downs to advance the ball.

One word to sum up the NRL – PHYSICAL!
To compare hits between the NFL and the NRL, check out the video below: