Could rugby players make it big in American football?

[autisticgeordie]

I'm not only English but I'm someone who doesn't really understand rugby or American Football, but it does seem like they're somewhat similar, so, has any rugby player made it big in American football and would it be easy for them to transition from rugby to American football? I'm obviously not saying that they're exactly the same game, but surely there must've been one rugby player who'd try and give US football a bash?

[Dr. T is an alien]

There are a few who are currently giving it a go, but I suspect that spending years playing without the pads would tend to lend to players to play it too safe to be as competitive as they could be. BTW, that is not a criticism. As brutal as rugby can be, I think it would kill people regularly if they used the same high impact collisions as the American Football does. I think American football players far too often put too much stock into how their equipment protects them from injury.

[Deleted]

Rugby-style punting has become a thing on some college football teams. I think that's the farthest Rugby in any shape has gone in American Football.

[BRV]

New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner has carved out a role as a very reliable player on special teams over his eight-year career. And when he's not suiting up for the Patriots, he was on the U.S. National Team in rugby at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

[Tiger Millionaire]

Sav Rocco had a decent career as a punter.

[agent817]

Shouldn't this be on the sports board?