There are many differences between football and rugby, not least the fact that one uses predominantly hands whereas one exclusively doesn’t. However, studded boots are a mutual aspect that both games share.
Now, we can’t all afford to splash that hard-earned cash on different boots for every sport we do. So, what’s the difference between rugby and football boots? Can you wear football boots for rugby? Is it safe to wear boots for different sports? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
What are the differences between football boots and rugby boots?
Adidas F50 Rugby Boots
- Width of the boots
- Stud configuration
- Heel
- Ankle cut
Width of the boots
Rugby boots are generally wider than football boots. This is primarily down to the fact that there is no intricate footwork in rugby. Whilst kicking occurs throughout the match, there’s not an awful lot. Rugby boots don’t need to be small for control like in football. Therefore, players benefit from a larger boot as they will have more kicking power.
Stud configuration
Football boots only have six studs in a standard boot, whereas rugby boots have eight. This is because grip is essential in rugby for rucks and scrums. Players need to literally dig into the ground to stabilise their body. The studs are also bigger for the same reason. Football boots have studs to simply prevent slipping rather than to grip into the surface.
Heel
The heels of football boots and rugby boots are also different. With rugby boots, the heel is thicker to give players a greater area to apply pressure on. When driving in a scrum or ruck, players drive forward and push back onto the back part of the boot. If the heel was low, there would be more strain on the achilles and a greater risk of injury.
Ankle cut
Similarly with the heel, the ankle cut is also different between football and rugby boots. With rugby boots, the ankle cut is higher up the foot to give added stability to players when they’re using their feet to drive forward. Alternatively, footballers need as much flexibility and movement in the feet as possible, so a lower-cut heel is preferred.
Can you wear football boots for rugby?
A common query people have is whether it’s practical to wear football boots for rugby and vice-versa. Both boots have studs and a similar shape, but wearing the same boot across sports can cause serious injury. When looking in a bit more detail at each boot, it also becomes apparent that wearing different boots for different sports won’t help players perform at their optimum level.
If football boots were used for rugby, players would crumble under pressure immense pressure pushing back at them. The smaller studs would stand absolutely no chance of helping a player resist this pressure. In terms of the kicking aspect of rugby, football boots will of course suffice.
Nic Stirzaker shows off his rugby boots
Wearing rugby boots for football is very impractical as well. The bigger and heavier boot puts players at a disadvantage when dribbling as it’s more difficult to move their feet around the ball and consequently to keep control in an effective manner. A player’s shot power may be enhanced but their accuracy will be diminished.
The smaller football boot is designed around the shape of the foot from a more detailed perspective, whereas rugby boots pay less attention to the outline of the foot. This means it will be harder for players to angle their foot in a way so that the ball goes where they want it to go, in the way that they want it to go.
So all in all, if it is just a kick/throw-about with your mates in the park, of course it’s okay to wear football boots for rugby or rugby boots for football. However, for a more intense rugby game, it’s better to splash the cash on a separate pair of boots specifically designed for rugby. If not, playing rugby in football boots can risk injury because they’re not sufficiently equipped for the game. Whilst ridicule will come from teammates when every shot or pass ends up off the pitch. So depending on how much your health, well-being and dignity costs, will determine if you can use football boots for rugby or whether a pair of rugby boots is required.
We recommend: Adidas Predator Instinct Absolion football boots to play casual rugby. Read our review or check the price.
Can you use rugby boots for football?
While you can get away with wearing football boots for rugby, is it the same the other way around – can you use rugby boots for football?
Short answer – no. We really wouldn’t recommend using rugby boots for football. The larger nature of rugby boots make them very impractical for playing football. They aren’t optimised for speed or for striking a ball like most football boots are. One plus is that they could give you added protection, so you won’t come out of 50/50s worse off.
However, the larger studs of rugby boots can also cause problems. They’re optimised for digging into the ground when driving forward in a scrum or a ruck. In football, your studs are there to simply give you some stability. Tackling in rugby boots can severely increase the risk of injuring your opponents, so sliding into tackles in them could see you picking up a load of bookings or red cards.
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