To the untrained eye, it might well appear that little or no differences exist between the types of shoe worn by players of soccer and rugby. However, there are notable differences between them, born out of the different physical demands that these two sports place upon their players. It is as a direct consequence of these differing physical demands that the need for different forms of protection exists.
History
Soccer and rugby shoes are not a recent invention. In fact, the use of specialist shoes can be traced back as far as the reign of King Henry VIII of England in 1526. His football boots were made by royal appointment out of ankle-high, strengthened leather, and weighed more than the typical shoe of the time. However, over time soccer and rugby shoes have evolved beyond recognition from their early counterparts; with the aid of technology, both have become a major hi-tech aspect of each game.
Traditional Style
Traditionally, there was little difference between shoes worn for soccer and those worn for rugby. Both were constructed from heavy-duty leather, weighing more than the traditional shoe, with numerous cleats attached to the sole of each shoe in order to aid traction and provide grip. These heavy-duty shoes required heavy-duty maintenance, too; they would have to be washed down after each game, stuffed to avoid losing shape, dried out and then rubbed with wax to increase flexibility. Not until the early to mid-1900s did soccer and rugby shoes really begin to evolve, adapting to the specific needs of their respective games. Common trends in the development of both soccer and rugby shoes included a move toward the use of lighter materials than traditional leather, including synthetics, and the development and change in the design of the cleat.
Materials
The development of rugby shoes corresponds with the increase in the physicality of the sport itself. Today's rugby shoes maintain their historically high level of protection around the ankle area and continue to have fairly heavy-duty construction.
This differs from the modern soccer shoe, which has left behind its history of heavy protection. It is designed around providing a lightweight and flexible platform for greater speed and athleticism; as a result, ankle protection has all but disappeared. In both cases synthetic materials are almost universally used, meaning that many shoes now weigh far less than ever before. However, soccer shoes have developed this trend to the point where some shoes weigh even less than a soccer jersey.
Cleats
Cleat design has similarly advanced. Rugby shoes have developed their cleats to improve power. Shoes generally have eight or more long, screw-in metal studs and tend to be fairly wide in construction to allow players to deploy maximum power and force onto the pitch. It is in soccer shoes where the greatest changes can be seen. Whereas shoes traditionally had six screw-in cleats, many now incorporate molded cleats or blades to adapt shoes to differing conditions, a reflection of the global popularity of soccer year-round resulting in the need for cleats that can function on varying surface types.
Further Changes
Advancements in construction and materials mean that shoes are developing continually. Some rugby players now choose to wear soccer shoes for the added freedom they provide, especially in traditional attacking positions such as the back line, while forwards maintain the need for the extra protection, and power distribution, that the standard rugby shoe offers.
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