no, it's pretty different than rugby. in rugby you must pass the ball backwards, try to run it across the end line and there are scrums. aussie rules has no scrums, lots of forward passing, more kicking and the only way you can score is by kicking. Its pretty easy to pick up the basic concept to follow as well. If you kick the ball and your teammate catches it in the air it is basically a free kick. Outside of that you are going to be hit. I think these are probably the toughest SOB's I have seen play any sport.