Absolutely. What's the joke regarding the two sports? Football is a gentleman's game played by hooligans while rugby is a hooligan's sport played by gentlemen. Something like that. Either way, the level of respect players have for one another and refs is awesome since it really is a violent/dangerous game. There are a few exceptions, but it's fun when refs say, "This isnt soccer, you cant get away with that here." Football/soccer players are just rich brats. FIFA and the various leagues encourage it too.

Football is a sport played by Gentlemen watched by hooligans. Rugby is a sport played hooligans, watched by Gentlemen.

Although the rugby hooligans are very respectful to the referee. Mic-up the referee in football.

As someone who grew up watching rugby and only got into football as an adult, I couldn't believe the amount of disrespect players show to officials. I think I spent the first two years constantly saying "in rugby this guy would have been sent off by now" on repeat...

I only discovered rugby a few years ago. I was completely floored. Players apologizing? Players being the first ones to admit making a mistake? Players making sure opposing hurt players are okay? What in the fuck am I watching? Who made it okay for mature, respectable adults to play a televised sport? Why haven't they been fired yet? Dont they know what planet this is?

When the players are respectful that's when you know it's a combat sport.

Same, as an American sports fan. Touching an official or yelling at them in any sort of aggressive manner is almost always an automatic foul or penalty, and possibly grounds for ejection.

My only thought as somebody who never played soccer is that the decisions a soccer referee makes are much more consequential, and oftentimes very subjective. A single call in soccer can change a game in a way that doesn't happen in any other sport.

I don't think it is true that referee calls in soccer are more consequential than in e.g. rugby. In fact I would argue that in rugby a referee could make very subtle calls (that would likely not be picked up by many fans even) that can very substantially change a game, e.g. just how he referees the breakdown or scrums. Let's not even talk about giving or not giving a try etc..

Rugby Union is a shining example of sport done right. Everyone other sport would do well to take a long hard look at their processes. I used to love ice hockey and then football (soccer) but now the only sport that I can watch without getting a bad taste in my mouth is Rugby. Six Nations is my favourite time of year.