Why don't rugby players wear pads?

Answer 1

A lot of players don't wear pads in their pants, because they believe it will slow them down; whether it be speed, agility, or simply, reaction time. This is why so many players object to the NFL's new rule in the 2013 season, stating that it will become mandatory for players to wear thigh and knee pads. Personally, I agree with the players. In college, I wore Yeh smallest(youth) pads I could find, and during my stint in arena and semi-pro, I NEVER wore them... So it kind of makes sense to me.

Answer 2

light body armour is allowed subject to IRB criteria. However, the game was created for use without the adding so that the cost of joining in the sport was kept at a minimum