By Eric Geisse
NFL Player Engagement Intern
“When I heard it was only 20-minute games, I was like, ‘Man, I would kill that. I’ve played two-hour games in college and the NFL.’ The first game I ever played in rugby, after two minutes, I was begging the coach to take me out. “ – Leonard Peters, current USA Rugby Sevens player and former safety for the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears
It has always been easy to comment on the differences between the sport of rugby and football. Rugby players don’t wear pads. Football players do. It seems that in rugby, play never comes to a stop (other than for the occasional scrum of course), while in football, the average play lasts somewhere between five and ten seconds. Scoring in rugby is called a “try,” while in football it’s called a touchdown. The similarities are also evident to those who have watched and played both games. You can never tell which way the ball is going to bounce and both sports are played by talented, athletic, almost superhuman beings that leave the field dirty, bloodied, and most of all, rearing for the next kickoff.
While in the past there has been little interaction between the NFL and other popular international sports, in early December the Player Engagement department hosted up-and-coming Australian rugby star Samisoni Langi. He plays for the National Rugby League world champion Sydney Roosters, the rugby equivalent of the Giants or Cowboys in legacy, success on the field, and place in the hearts of the sport’s fans. He is also a huge part of the Tongan national rugby team in honor of the birthplace of his mother and father but hopes to make it to the senior Australian national side, one of the most historically successful international squads in the world. I was lucky enough to sit down with Soni and ask him about the similarities and differences in how both leagues develop their players, how going to the Jets vs. Dolphins game in December went, and most importantly, is it true that rugby boys mock NFL tackling technique?
The first question to Soni was an obvious one. When asked what an up-and-coming Australian rugby star was doing visiting the NFL offices in New York City, he humbly replied, “I won an award called the Arthur Beetson award. He was a club legend and regarded as one of the best players of his time. Basically it is an outstanding player award for the junior Roosters team. I played most of the year with the U20’s but I got in a couple games with the senior side. I honestly didn’t know I was coming to New York. The guy who won last year got a chance to go to England and meet the soccer team Manchester United, but when I heard I was going to New York I was really excited.”
There was good reason to be excited. Soni had a chance to visit the New York Giants training facility, attend the Jets game (which he said was unbelievably cold), and catch a glimpse into some of the things we do in NFL Player Engagement. After having sat down with several members of the department, Soni was able to get an idea of some of the resources we offer across the PREP, LIFE, and NEXT platforms. It seems that National Rugby League and the National Football League deal with many of the same challenges regarding the protection of players’ interest and safety. When I asked Soni to explain more about the structures the Rugby League has in place to combat these issues and circumstances he said, “Well, we have counselors. They are usually older players or members of the organization that try to counsel the younger guys and make sure they are doing the right thing. We also have a welfare manager that is in charge of making sure everyone stays safe. I think we have many of the same problems that football boys do. Gambling is a big one. They also get in trouble with the police after going out for the night, can get rowdy sometimes. We don’t have the issues with the guns though. Australia’s laws on guns are much stricter than America’s.”
Another huge aspect of the National Rugby League system is the amount of players attending school through their time on the junior and senior sides. Soni is even in the middle of his college career studying to be a teacher. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher after rugby. I understand that my time is only temporary. The older guys are really good at making sure the younger boys stay on top of their studies, and encourage them to put a full effort in.” In many ways the NFL strives to develop a similar culture. Player Engagement offers many different educational resources and try every day to get guys back in school so that they can take the next step in their career after their playing experience comes to an end.
I speak for everyone when I say that we really enjoyed the time Soni spent at the NFL. We hope that on his return trip, he takes some of Player Engagement’s goals and guiding principles not only to the Roosters, but to the whole Rugby League. We certainly learned a lot about a sport that, while it has become increasingly popular in America, has yet to make a significant entrance onto the national stage. We wish him the best of luck with his career, even if he still says NFL guys can’t tackle.