Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union

A comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union is possible because of certain similarities between the codes, as well as the numerous dissimilarities.

Rugby union has a number of set pieces, such as line-outs, scrums and rucks that do not have direct equivalents in Gaelic football.

Rugby union uses an oval ball (a prolate spheroid), somewhat similar to an American or Australian rules football.

The instep is the most popular style based on culture, the drop punt used in Gaelic is a far superior kick in terms of distance and accuracy but is rarely taught.

A hand pass is not a punch but rather a strike of the ball with the side of the closed fist, using the knuckle of the thumb.

Most notably, a rugby union game will continue after the scheduled end of a half (half-time or full-time) until the ball becomes dead – any occurrence that would have play restart with a scrum or line-out, or when a team scores.

This has led to some 'nail-biting' finishes where teams losing by only a small margin work their way towards scoring, and games can go on several minutes over time.

In Gaelic football the penalties available (in increasing order of severity) are: Rugby union is played between two teams – the one that scores more points wins the game.

[4] In Gaelic football, if the ball goes over the crossbar, a point is scored and a white flag is raised by an umpire.

If the ball goes below the crossbar, a goal, worth three points, is scored, and a green flag is raised by an umpire.

Both sports have their origins in the traditional football games of Europe, with a great deal of formal 19th-century codification overlaying them.

Current rules state that GAA property may only be used for the purpose or in connection with the playing of games controlled by the association.

[9] There was considerable concern as to what reaction there would be to the singing of God Save the Queen, which was being used as the anthem of the England team.

Ultimately the song was sung without interruption or incident, and applauded by both sets of supporters at the match, which Ireland won by 43–13 (their largest ever win over England in rugby).

During that time people such as Douglas Hyde, GAA patron and then President of Ireland, were expelled for attending a soccer international.

The Rugby World Cup itself is of much more recent origin, dating back to 1987, when invitations were sent out to various national sides.

Gaelic football is mostly domestic, although it remains popular in areas with major Irish emigre populations.

Although the game is formally organised outside Ireland, there are no true national Gaelic football teams.

These were prefigured by an Australian tour of Ireland in 1967 organised by Harry Beitzel, which played against domestic sides.