Most people who mock American football as ‘rugby for wusses’ (or similar) don’t even know how the game works, let alone what the legitimate differences are.

In fact handegg players are more likely to suffer serious injuries because of it AFAIK. Particularly brain damage.

The passing and scrum rules also change the game. There’s less chance for an unexpected and dangerous hit in rugby. More shove, less hard contact.

Different kinds of hits, but... goddamn. I saw a guy in a rugby game take a full-on elbow to the face while running full tilt and go pinwheeling to the ground... and the game continued without so much as a comment from the announcer.