than union rugby, both are still worlds away. Union rugby may have 2 similarities to American football that you don't see in league rugby.

The first is the way the ball is recycled for play when a ruck has formed. Sometimes the ball is passed back through the legs of a teammate or you see the #9 (or whomever has assumed the #9's role in the ruck) reach between a teammate's legs to grab the ball (similar to the way a center snaps the ball to the QB). Whereas in league the person tackled with the ball on the previous play recycles the ball by rolling the ball back to a teammate on the ground with the bottom of the cleats.

The second is how much a try is worth in both sports. Union counts a try as 5 points, which is closer to the 6 points for a TD, and league counts a try as 4 points. Also, when you factor in a converted extras, then a union team can earn a maximum of 7 points for a try and converted extras which is similar to a TD and converted PAT in American football. Whereas, a league team can only earn a maximum of 6 points for a try and converted extras.