Whats tougher Rugby or American Football?

Rugby is much more physically demanding, although American Football has it's toughness too. Neither are "pansy" sports, and both require a lot of skill to play at almost any level. However, I believe Rugby is much tougher to play overall.

RUGBY, no question.

If American football had less padding it would be the toughest, you see some bloody violent moves which are completely legal according to the rules. But if you can take a punch, throw a ball and sprint well, you're fine. Rugby is tougher both because of the lack of padding, which makes it bloody tough and bone-cracking. It's also more mentally challenging because of the sheer number of rules, and the fact that you have to slog it out for long periods of time. Wouldn't it be tougher for you if you had to have a huge steroid-looking guy barging towards you, rather than barging towards the protective body-suit and helmet you're wearing?

definitely rugby because the players wear less padding and also everybody is constantly in the action i don't get why such a big emphasis is placed on fitness for american football when they don't go 10 seconds without having a breather

i would say football would be a lot tougher, if they didnt have so many pads. but i have to say rugby because most of the players only wear a mouthguard for protection.

I have played them both, and while they potential for injury in both sports is similar, football has consistently harder hits and much more head trauma. Rugby requires more stamina. Both are as brutal as you can stand, really. If you have never played football, you have no opinion on this subject. I found some of the rules of rugby pretty silly.

American football is such a legandary game, I LOVE the fact you can just go bosh anybody on pitch, but rugby is much more physically demanding, as the game is not stopped after every "play"

RUGBY ! no doubt, because the only protection is a mouth guard. and its a pretty full on contact sport.

Football because rugby makes no sense