Historically, there were originally very few differences between boots worn for the game of soccer and those worn for rugby. Only during the early to mid 20th century did the soccer and rugby boot really begin to evolve and adapt to each individual game, and ultimately become the very different finished products that they are today.
Protection Levels
While rugby boots have maintained, if not increased, their traditional levels of protection, the complete opposite can be said of the soccer boot. Originally, both were made from heavy duty leathers with a great deal of protection around the ankle region. The rugby boot has continued to have a fairly heavy duty construction and maintained the high ankle region to give extra support, but the soccer boot has lowered the ankle region significantly and now focuses on lightweight construction and only minimal levels of protection.
Cleats
Cleats, the raised traction aids used on the bottom of many sports shoes, vary quite considerably between soccer and rugby boots. The rugby boot tends to have eight or more individual cleats of a traditional screw-in nature. These cleats tend to be made from metal and tend to be up to an inch in length. Soccer boots tend to have fewer cleats, usually totaling around six. However, many soccer boots use molded and bladed cleats, which vary in number, but allow the boots to be used in a variety of conditions.
Materials
Traditional use of heavy leathers has been replaced in the manufacture of both soccer and rugby boots. Rugby boots still tend to use leather in some instances, particularly the relatively lightweight kangaroo leather, but increasingly fairly thick, strong synthetic materials are used. Soccer boots are now rarely constructed from leather, instead using increasingly lightweight synthetic materials in their manufacture, and substituting material strength for greater feel and flexibility.
Widths
While soccer boots tend to be fairly compact in their design, molded as closely as possible to the foot of the player, rugby boots tend to incorporate enhanced width in their design. This is to allow players a greater surface area through which they can apply high levels of pressure and power from their leg muscles onto the pitch, reflecting the physical nature of the game.
Crossover Potential
While few soccer players would choose to wear the larger and more protective rugby boot when taking part in a match, some rugby players, particularly those in attacking, back line positions, choose to wear soccer boots during matches. They feel that their positions require less protection than that supplied by the rugby boot, and favor the added maneuverability and feel that the modern soccer boot offers, especially when required to kick the ball.
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