The Difference between Rugby Union & Rugby League - EXPLAINED! 

This video explains the differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union. For those of you who have been asking - I like both kinds of Rugby, but I prefer Rugby League. I am entitled to my opinion and I don't criticize anyone who thinks differently to me. Please be civil when commenting on this video! Please comment, rate, share, subscribe and post on Reddit to discuss.

For me as a German who grew up with football only, i wondered why I never truly understood the rules of rugby. I always wondedered why I sometimes got it, and other times I didn't understand what was happening . It makes sense now. I must have been watching Rugby League and Rugby Union matches. Thanks for clearing this up!

As a rare breed (in the UK at least) I have played both. I love them both equally. League is much harder physically and requires greater athleticism than Union. Union is much harder tactically and requires greater intelligence. Both require toughness but the type of toughness differs. In League, you will take much harder hits and much more often. You will need to be able to take those hits and get up immediately. You also need the explosive power to make those tackles. In Union you need a different kind of toughness. As a forward, you will spend large parts of the game pushing strong and heavy men off the ball, and will often find yourself at the bottom of a pile when the scrum/ruck/maul collapses around you. This can be very physically gruelling and the constant battling (especially in bad weather) requires a physiological toughness that isn't really needed in League. I really do love both equally but since I switched to playing Union I've always said that “rucking is resting”. You don't get a chance to draw a breath for one moment if you're in a tight game of League. And honestly, there's no way I could go back to playing League now (would at least have to stop smoking first!)

From India here. I love union. I love the strategy and tactics involved in the game. It's very immersive. It's like two ancient armies having a go in a battle field..and defending their fort. Both armies employs a range of ploys and strategies, and have their own different types of warriors in the field, having their own strengths and weaknesses. This (rugby union) is for those who loves muscles and brute strength, action and battles.. endurance and heart, and spiced with tactics and strategies..stories♥️

I love British insults.

Growing up on union I can't stand the thought of making a tackle and not even having the chance to get the ball off them

Union for watching and getting into, but league for a casual afternoon on the couch. IMO Union is the better sport but the NRL is a great competition, despite its many controversies.(from a slightly biased kiwi).International union is miles ahead though, even league fans don't really care about international league.

As an Aussie, I can confirm to many that Rugby Union and Rugby League are very different games. I have played both in my time and they are two great sports. For anyone interested in playing rugby for the first time but don't know which one to pick, rugby league is a lot easier for beginners. If you're given the ball in Rugby League, just run as fast and as hard as you can until you're brought to the ground by the opposition and if you hear the ref shout 5th or last tackle, just kick the ball up the field. If you're defending, just bear hug the opponent to the ground until the ref shouts "release" and get back 10 metres with the rest of your team and repeat when the dummy-half touches the ball. Easy and simple. Rugby League is the most popular and watched sport in Australia and its always something you'll see and talk about when you're down under. I started playing Rugby Union three years ago and it is a lot harder to learn but it's a lot more fun if you're looking for chaos in tackles and contested scrums and learning calls and names for specific tactics and calls when moving the ball around. I immediately became a fan of the maul. Always love me a good maul. One thing I always hear when non-rugby union fans watch rugby union games they usually say something along the lines of "he's pretty fast for a white boy". The wingers are usually a lot bigger and faster than their Rugby League counterparts in my opinion. So all the more reason to try rugby league first before jumping into the deep end with rugby union. Unlike football (soccer), your jersey number is important. Don't just put on the first jersey you like because its your lucky number. You always have to pick a jersey number that matches your position so both your teammates and coaches can help direct you where you need to be in a game. Rugby League: Rugby Union 1 - Fullback 1 - Prop (loose head) *left side prop* 2 - Winger 2 - Hooker 3 - Centre 3 - Prop (tight head) *right side prop* 4 - Centre 4 - Lock 5 - Winger 5 - Lock 6 - 5/8 (five-eight) 6 - flanker 7 - Halfback 7 - flanker 8 - Prop 8 - number 8 9 - Hooker 9 - Scrum half 10 - Prop 10 - Fly half (Halfback) 11 - Second rower (Back rower) 11 - Left winger 12 - second rower (Back rower) 12 - Left centre (inside centre) 13 - Lock 13 - Right centre (outside centre) 14 - Right winger 15 - Fullback

I feel like Union players are built heavier (as in a more muscley) and league players are lighter and faster. I personally prefer Union (obviously as I'm a lock) but I kind of understand League

As an American, I was watching my first rugby union game, and I had no idea what the heck is going on. Then, I watched Rugby League and I thought “Holy crap, this is so much more fun!”

I tend to prefer Union because at least when a player gets tackled there is a fight for the ball. I hate the stop & start kind of tackles from League. Granted if you like that, that is fine. I just enjoy watching the fight for the ball.

I’m an American and just started following the NRL in Australia. I find that Rugby League is very exciting and has some similarities to our football

Great video. Growing up in Canada and playing Union it's still my favourite, and having lived in NZ for over 20 years the set pieces and tactical aspects of the game make it more entertaining for me. However, I acknowledge that League is a truly great game, it's physicality is second to none. Also, 2 less players per team creates a lot more space on the field which makes for more exciting line breaks. We get lots of Aussie NRL games here and those are really something to see if you enjoy a game with speed, skill and brutal displays of power. If someone could get Americans to like League they'd make a billion dollars.

I was playing american football in Spain and Germany and am very new to the world of Rugby. I came across it while being in Australia and didn't even know back then that there were two different types of Rugby, that the All Blacks isn't the same team as the Kiwis etc.That was a very informative video Ninh Ly, thanks so much for sharing this :)

I'm a union player myself and prefer it, but respect to league players aswell, your sport's awesome! And thanks for the video- liked and subbed! :)

I'm from Australia and I love both. I've played both at a fairly high level for my age and they're fun in different ways. This is a great video, keep it up man.

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Two amazing games. My preference is for Union, but i love League too. The union Sevens come next!!

us Fijian adapt easily to both code's, I play five eight in both code's for my village team on the same week. our national sport here is rugby Union but in terms of international ranking league is ranked better than union. So I guess we are naturally born to play rugby...BOTH FORMS OF RUGBY!!!

Best explanation I have ever found, thanks.

I am from India and I am really looking forward to learning and getting to know the game with the upcoming world cup. I never even knew that there were two codes of the game. I always used to be confused regarding the tackles and the point system. This video did clear many of my doubts. I look forward to learning about other complex rules, tactics and positions. By the way, I am an avid cricket and football (Soccer) fan and it is fun to see many of the national rivalries in these sports carry over to other games. Australia got battered by England in the Ashes and the South Africans yet again lost in the Cricket World Cup Semis to New Zealand. Eagerly waiting to see how they do when they turn out as Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks and the Lions.

I knew you preferred Rugby League. I could sense it in your video. But well done still! awesome video

Yeah, Rugby League made instant sense to me. I had to watch a whole other video just on Rugby Union to fully get it lol Makes me wonder why we just don't call football American Rugby and soccer Football.

PNG is also a country (worth mentioning) that is more Rugby League then Union. Rugby League on PNG is on the level of religion. There are also some smaller countries where also it can be debated which is more popular League or Union. But for sure, Australia is the best example for this video. It's very nice video. I played both, but I prefer League because the ball is more in play then in Union, and that's scientific fact. American Football - average of 11-13 minutes of active play out of 60 minutes Rugby Union - average of 25-35 minutes of active play out of 80 minutes Rugby League - average of 55-60 minutes of active play out of 80 minutes Union is more kicking based game in compare to League, and League is more contact based game in compare to Union.

Played both codes all my life. I've been injured a million times more in league, prefer watching league but rather play Union. Great video.

Thanks for the video. I'm an American who started watching any rugby I could find on TV and was watching a lot of aviva premiership last season. I just recently started watching NRL because of the matches shown on Fox sports 2. I'm liking the rugby league better. I like the tackle better as it keep the game going faster. One of my favorite things to watch in American football is the running back which is what sparked my interest in rugby.

As an American, I knew little about rugby and did not even know there were two codes. Then, my family and I went to Bath, England, and I decided to start following Bath Rugby. This led to a desire to understand and appreciate both codes. Now, I follow teams from both codes in both hemispheres. I enjoy both, and I appreciate the appeal of each. Some union games are boring, and some league games are boring. Each can be thoroughly exciting and entertaining. Some people prefer one over the other, but you don’t have to make a choice. You can enjoy and appreciate both!

Shared this to all my mates. We mainly like league better due to being a fast pace and simple game. Rugby league players are gonna be amongst the fittest athletes in the world due to the ( reduced interchange ) rule in 2016, can only imagine state of origin with that rule. I subbed and liked the video. Very well put together and explained, top notch work mate!

Brilliant video. Really well explained and executed, great metaphor with chess/checkers, and even the quality of the videos standardised so that we knew when we were looking at union or league footage. And funny. Thank you!

As my son has recently moved from union to league, and understanding that I have to learn another game before the season starts, this video was excellent in highlighting the differences. I love Rugby Union...but can see the commonalities with American Football, and I think that once I get the numbering of the positions straight I will be able to follow the game fairly well (perhaps you could add this to a future video.) Either way Rugby, league or union, is a phenomenal sport, and I'm excited to see it increasing in popularity in the states with the MLR and NARL!! Let's go DC Calvary!!!

I travelled over 40,000 miles watching rugby league in 2018 (my record year watching the sport). I just got back to the US from England having watched 5 Super League games including the Saints v Wigan derby. League all the way for me. The greatest game/sport of all without any doubt.

I'm American, and rugby union is my second favorite sport behind soccer (football).

Hi Ninh! I am very impressed with all of your how-to videos :) My wife is a big fan of Rugby Sevens and we were wondering if you had any plans to make a video about it? Thank you!

Well done my friend ! Easy to understand and very informative !

great summary! thanks. It all comes down to how they deal with tackles. amazing

The chess checkers analogy is very apt. Rugby Union encourages far more specialisiation which opens up a ton of strategic decisions, pack weight, number of specialist ball distributers, whether you go for a breakdown or lineout specialist. This creates a lot of mismatches in teams which as a fan is fun to see. The downside is that union doesn't create players with the same ball handling and running skills that league players have. I suppose union is less interesting to the majority of non rugby fans but has a huge amount of depth for purists to get excited about. Unfortunately I think league is being squashed between the 7's and 15's game. I used to watch league more than 7's but since about 2014 (and especially since its inclusion in the olympics in 2016) I'll watch 7's if I want fast paced running rugby and if I want more of a slow burn I'll go for union.

I'm an American who enjoys both. I watch the NRL and the Aviva Premiership. Apples and oranges.

this is true. I've recentlly started watching both rugby union and rugby league and as an NFL fan primarily I find rugby league alot more easier to understand and alot more similar and I personally think that the NFL while I love how tactical it is should strive to play more like rugby league. I really can't stand killing time in the NFL and I can see why many foreigners talk crap about us when shit like that happens.

I'm a league fan...great video

I’ve commented on this video a fair few times now but I just wanted to say that this video inspired me to learn more about the history of both sports. Four years ago when I had to do a speech in English, I may or may not have plagiarised this video by citing it off by heart. Now that I do a sports media degree, this video has helped me heavily in developing a deeper knowledge for league and union.

I played Rugby (Union) for 30 years before I got OFS disorder, but I never got the opportunity to play league. I consider that a loss, since it looks like my sort of game. I don't know of many League teams here in the US, but I'd think it might appeal to American sensibilities.

I actually understand/like Union better, and my favorite sport as an American is American football. Despite the retreat/set part of League and the limited possessions, the strategy of Union makes much more sense to me because of how complicated NFL schemes can get. Specialized players, more contact in groups, game management and strategy... this is MUCH more American football than League. The rules of League might be easier to understand for the uninitiated, but overall the Union game is more like American football.

Thanks for the quality video and balanced information. Cleared it up for me.

i am primarily a rugby union guy but i love all rugby this really help because i was watching NRL and was like why is there no rucking? but this video helped so much

I am learning to enjoy both. I like watching the Union teams in New Zealand , but I can't stop watching NRL in Oz! This is coming from a die hard American football fan. Rugby is badass!

i respect both codes. i'm from New Zealand and to be honest most people here like both. but the majority would rather watch an AB's game than a kiwi's.

Good video! I watched it a couple of times and I understand the difference much better now :)

Utterly brilliant video! Thanks!

Excellent analogy at the end there, bru. Wish we had League to compare Union too, here in South Africa.

Quick note: George W Bush is a union man and played it at university/college.

Thank you for the explanation, been watching 6 nations, rugby championship, etc when I can here in the states. My university had a club team I watched several times and could never understand rules.

The NRL has higher attendance figures than the premiership, so I think there is definitely a debate to be had in which sport is actually more popular.

As a spectator for me Union can be more exciting as you know you've got 6 tackles in league to make the line. Whereas I think there is more of a sense of jeopardy. Good video.

Union is the one I saw for the first time and I still find it more interesting. As I can find some spectacular sets of play in league, for the most of the time it is one-dimenional, it looks like five phases of running into the wall and then a bomb/grubber kick. Union is much more complicated and more diverse with it's (contested) scrums, lineouts, mauls and even rucks. Still, untidy rucks, slowing the ball, collapsing scrums and pointless kicking for the own 22 gives league lovers a handfull of arguments. But for me all of mentioned are results of poor quality of the team, not necessarily a fault of the game.

I play Rugby for my high school and I just found out that it's Rugby Union. Very informational video. Good job

thank you for very short but informative information. my city just got a rugby league team and it's quite confusing that they play differently with most kind of rugby I've seen.

As an American who plays rugby in college I’d say union

I’ve played both codes and enjoyed them both for me they were totally different games but with the same objective. Union tends to have a lot more specialised positions and requires different skill sets. Rugby league is a simpler game however requires players to be fit and agile.

From the way you described it, it sounds like League would be open to more complexities and strategies since you have to think about your movement more and prepare for tackles ahead of time.

What a fantastic video. Thank you!

Real nice toturial, i've played both and everything you say is like I experienced! :) I think I like Union better but the rucks and scrum can sometimes be a pain in the buttocks.

American here. The first match I watched was Union and after watching League, I prefer Union.

This answer all my questions, thanks!

Very helpful video. Thank you!

After playing both, I have to say that union is better. This is because I love the rucks and mauls, I also thing that they add to the game and the overall complexity makes the sport better. I have to disagree though, in the video you said that league player refer union players to be "people who can't take a hit" when in league all you do is run and get tackled. When in union after you tackle there is (in basic terms) a huge dangerous bundle. Surely that means that league players can't take the hit?! That's my OPINION anyway!

Thanks for the video explaining the differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League. I'm living in Toronto and new to the sport. Go Wolfpack!

I've been playing rugby union for quite a while but I am giving rugby league a shot. This is very informative. Thank you.

Bloody fantastic video man, I'm familiar with both games I'm a Union guy while my Brother prefers League ( to each their own) but now when people ask me about getting into Rugby I'll point them towards this video. Keep up the great work.

Thanks to the Toronto Wolfpack I've only recently become familiar with rugby league, having previously been a supporter of rugby union since the 80s. I like both sports, and I find the continued argument between the two as to which is 'better' to be petty, childish, and a detriment to both. Keep that rivalry and animosity out of Canada, please, so that we can continue to enjoy both codes here.

Freaking perfect i am Aussie and this sums it up perfectly, and ironically Rugby Union is more popular here in the southern end while the Northern states of Australia are more league based. I am a Union player.

This was so helpful and clear - and I'm a rank rugby rookie. After watching Union rugby vids, saw the difference immediately in the Bath-Wigan contest (under League rules). Poor Union guys we're dragging 😂

Just started to watch Rugby this World cup and you Video was really helpful to understand both Sports! Thanks.

I love league, but I prefer Union. I like the strategic aspect of Rugby Union. Yet League is great, love the NRL (GO ROOSTERS). But I'd I'm more attracted to Union. Yet this was a great video!

I prefer union over league, as I personally find it more interesting to watch due to its more strategic approach.

I used to play union in high school but I prefer watching league specifically NRL. I forgot the difference and this video refreshed my memory. Thanks!

this video helped a LOT i know the rules of rugby hunion but i watched a rugby league game but had no clue why they went to six tackles. if you like a fast paced game rugby 7s is really fun to watch

My parents are split so sometimes I'm in Southern England and Northern England. Rugby union, I tackled one kid and winded him and he cried and was sent off... then my friend tackled an opponent and he cut his eyebrow, it doesn't hurt but LOADS of blood drips out, it's happened to me. And he was crying because he said he had a fear of blood😂 And rugby league I have not seen any one crying or complaining, they all have respect and they are not posh twats

I cant wait till I see my first rugby game in 2 weeks at the NRL final! I guess I like checkers...

Thank you! I am from Argentina a country of rugby union and this video was very clear. Saludos!

Super informative video!!! thank you!!!

Not going to lie, I've had almost zero exposure to League, so this was helpful. My exposure to Union has been much higher, so that's what I prefer for now. Definitely would be down for giving League a try. Prefer Aussie Rules overall, though.

I've played both codes before (being from NZ) and you definitely need to be fitter for rugby union. The ball is constantly in motion, there are more kicks to chase and every breakdown is contested. When there are scrums in union, forwards don't get to take a break like league players do, Union players actually have to push. In league, there are more interchanges allowed to take the big boys off to have a break. Also when league players run up and take a hit, they just drift out to wing and wait for the ball to come there way again. Union players have to hunt for possession and earn the ball by stealing it at the breakdown or winning the contest at scrums and lineouts. HOWEVER Rugby league has a lot of big hits, mainly because players are trained to tackle high and make ball and all tackles, so league players do suffer larger impacts. but both games are awesome, love them both, both are much better than soccer.

i have enjoyed watching rugby for years. this is very helpful,

I met a lad from Sheffield that explained the history of Union vs League to me, I was completely unaware of it until recently. It's fascinating and very politically driven. As a South African I prefer Union but I have watched League and for a time lived in Warrington right near the Halliwell Jones stadium. Obviously as a Bok its all about scrums, rucks and mauls for me. I love watching that battle where to be honest I do get quite bored with League, and I think it's because there seems to be little effort in keeping the passing going once you're tackled. Watching 20 phases of Union where it builds and keeping the ball alive is much more interesting to me. The stop start nature of League just sees me drifting off a bit. Great video and its great that both League and Union exist as life would be boring if we all liked the same things.

That history part was surprising uses ful and amazing thank you for including that I prefer league btw

Extremely helpful and entertaining to boot! Thank you very much sir. I played Union in high school in the States, and my goodness the rules were so complex. But it was and is an infinitely more fun sport than our own brand of football.

Great video. Shared it on my site.

Good video. Liked how there was little to no bias. I'm a league man, but will happily watch a GOOD game of union. The games in the most recent world cup were entertaining, I liked that the ref's held off the whistle a bit. Totally agree that it would be easier for someone from the USA to watch (and understand) a game of league as opposed to a game of union. Also, I liked how you acknowledged the fitness of league players and the tactics of union.

Briliant video. Useful and entertaining. Just one minor point of nitpicking: George W. Bush might be an idiot, but he'll probable understand the rules of rugby union.... He used to play it.

Good video despite the slight bias towards league (which you are of course entitled to) however I dispute the idea that you have to be fitter to play league. Rucks and contest for the ball are incredibly tiring, after making a carry or tackle in union you have to fight to get the ball back or to try and steal it, in league you just lie on the guy for a second or two and he stands up and puts it through his legs. Also league has much less lateral movement. Also in league there is no need for support play for the most part, a guy can carry by himself while all his team mates just wait for the next phase, in rugby at least 2 or 3 players need to be right there with him or the ball will be turned over. Also in Union scrums and lineouts are contested so there is no real break there.

As an American trying to master the rules of rugby (union, that is), this was extremely helpful. Thanks very much.

live in AUS and grew up playing league, played rugby for a couple of years and having a league background does help when you play the other game especially in defense and fitness.

Rucking is sooooooo much fun though

Great video, for me Union is "better", congrats from Brazil

Very informative, thank you

I am here for two reasons. 1. I am Welsh, so even though I don't really have any attachment to any sport, this stuff is in my blood, can't help it. 2. This video was cited in a video about fighting games for why Super Smash Brothers Melee players and Super Smash Brothers 4 players don't get along. It's basically the same as Rugby League and Rugby Union. Although what that makes Brawl I have no idea... There seems to be good points to both. Though there's no rucks and pile-ins, which is just WEIRD to me, the scoring system makes way more sense. I still have no clue why over-the-bar kicks are 3pts.

When highlighting Yorkshire they only highlighted north Yorkshire

I prefer Union over League only because I like it when a sport has a strategic side like American football. Oddly enough I live near Manchester, so it's a rugby league kind of town here. GO SALE SHARKS and GO SALFORD RED DEVILS!

That was a really good explanation thanks

as someone who is just learning to enjoy rugby, this was a very helpful video.