Poll: Toughest Sport

[ApeShapeDeity]

I'm gonna say rugby over gridiron. You've gotta love a game where you have to gaffa tape your ears to your head to keep them.

For sheer pysical and technical difficulty and the unforgiving nature of it, unassisted solo climbing. This is great fun but your adrenaline glands get as much of a work out as anything. You REALLY don't want to miss a hand hold!

One of my buddies took a fall, lucky for him it was only about 6 metres (approx. 18+ feet). Tore him up pretty good, but he managed to walk/crawl away.

Price tag=
1 broken nose
3 broken ribs
1 dislocated shoulder
1 sprained hip
18 stitches
1 concussion
Uncounted cuts/abrasions.

LOL, just occured to me, probably one of the few times that hitting rocks while you fall is a good thing, slows you down.

 

[Biosophilogical]

AFL!!! Okay, it isn't the toughest by a long shot (but I think Rugby should be removed, because it is effectively a combination of line-dancing and tackling, so the entire purpose is being physical rough with the opposition), but I like the sport and I've never played/watched Hockey so I don't feel qualified to comment.

 

[Canid117]

So, as an American (though really, a few of my more international friends have noticed it to), its getting rather tiring to see the argument over whether Rugby or (American) Football is tougher.

Cant Rugby and Football fans unite over a common lack of respect for Soccer instead of going at each others throats?

 

[Inmate13]

While there is certainly a great deal of hockey cred to this thread, my vote still has to go to Rugby, if only because of one man: Wayne Shelford

His story is told in rugby circles worldwide, yet for the sake of our collective attention span, here is the condensed version lifted straight from The Wiki itself (we cool Jimmy? I gave you 10 bucks this year):

"Shelford made his Test debut for the All Blacks later that year against France in a 19?7 victory in Toulouse, and then was a notable victim of the infamous "Battle of Nantes" in the second Test. Roughly 20 minutes into the match, he was caught at the bottom of a rather aggressive ruck, and an errant French boot found its way into Shelford's groin, somehow ripping his scrotum and leaving one testicle hanging free. He also lost four teeth in the process. Incredibly, after discovering the injury to his scrotum, he calmly asked the physio to stitch up the tear and returned to the field"

Yes, rather than screaming in mind-bending agony at the sight of his now FULLY exposed "lil wayne," this man of mans simply tucked the ol' boy back inside and kept right on playing.

 

[Inmate13]

Wow, I seriously fail at posting tonight

 

[SirDeadly]

Cricket in my opinion. A batsmen has to face a ball (a really hard painful ball) coming at him at over 130km/h. Who in there right mind wouldn't be shitting there dacks if someone like Brett Lee was bowling at you? Not to mention being able to stay focused after hours on the pitch, it's both physically and mentally challenging.

 

[southfence]

My guess is that anyone who selected rugby has never played the game let alone watched a full game. It looks brutal if you have no idea what is going on but it really isnt. It breaks down to 2 or 3 people trying to tackle 1 person at any given time, secondly the 1 player with the ball will give up in the tackle in order to keep possession which makes a huge difference,

The injuries from football come from the collisions every down that is maybe 6 physically hitting someone who is hitting them as hard back, unstoppable force hitting unmoveable objects.
How often do open field tackles in football look bad? never. Every tackle in rugby is in open field. Maybe back in the day when rucking was allowed rugby was brutal but not anymore.

In rugby if a player is in the air catching a ball they CANNOT be touched at all until they land in football you are only not allowed to hit them in the head. In rugby you can NEVER hit someone in the head. In football head shot are fine as long as the player isnt defenseless. Take away helmets and the huge pads and football could potentially be a safer game(I say this having never played only watching the game) as they are used as weapons, take away the helmet and players will pay more attention to tackling technique which will make the gamer actually safer.

Maybe 10 idiots who dont know rugby trying to play in a park are asking for a world or trouble, but so are the similar 10 idiots in New Zealand trying to play a game of football.

 

[IndianaJonny]

EDIT:
A second question was posed that I find kinda interesting. What Sport has the toughest players/competitors/whatever you'd like to call them?

I'd have to say Fencers. Why? Cause I've had personal experience in that, but before I go there, I'll say this. Ever seen what a Fencer sees? its a Sword. Pointed at you. With the intent to hit you with it. And can kill you. I think the fact alone none of them shit themsleves is impressive on its own.

As to my personal experience, you should try fencing without the suits or padded equipment, without a tipped rapier. I have. Its not fun, and the scar I have on my leg where my friend pretty much drove his rapier through it is proof enough (especially since he almost neutered me).

You give us far too much credit, chum. Every safety measure possible is taken and you only really put yourself at risk if you're careless or stupid (OK, with the odd equipment failure)- so please don't go round recommending that people try this without supervision or the proper gear; that isn't fencing, it's an accident waiting to happen.

 

[ultimateownage]

Extreme Frisbee. Obviously.

 

[JenSeven]

Toughest sport?
What about Jai Alai?

 

[Rayansaki]

Was mentioned before, Formula One racing is probably the toughest sport, and is definitely the most stressful to the body and mind.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Until you've been knocked down and trampled in rugby, until you feel the pain of studs in your groin, you are not allowed to tell me anything other than rugby.

 

[Ithos]

Triathlon. Try googling "Norseman Xtreme" and see if you think I'm wrong.

 

[adderseal]

Obviously cycling. No other sport asks their pros to ride 120 miles in 4 hours, every day, for 3 weeks. Over mountains, alone against the clock (soul-destroyingly brutal) and through all kinds of weather.
Edit: There's a video of a race on youtube where the 2006 world champion attacks on the last climb, after about 230km of racing. The guy trying to keep up with him is literally crying in agony, he's got cramps in both legs and is still powering up this fuck-off steep hill. Respect.

 

[meticadpa]

I say either gymnastics or dancing on ice (not sure what the appropriate name is for it...).

Both require huge amounts of strength.

Edit: or blindfold chess. It's so hardcore that it was banned in Soviet Russia.

 

[Adam Galli]

I think hockey has the toughest players. Especially the enforcers. Where else, besides boxing, do you see big guys beat the crap outta each other's faces, sit in the penalty box for five minutes then come right back onto the ice like nothing happened. And we can't forget about the hockey smile