football boots are worn for a multitude of reasons, EG keeping your feet light, and for attacking kicks, i used to like the ball to come off my foot a certain way when kicking through. it's not a fashion statement.

I'm sure the OP knows more about what boots they should wear than the top professional rugby clubs in this country...

Hey

I know more about most things than most people and I'm modest about it!

I comment on what I see and the number of players that slip on the pitch when changing direction seems to indicate that the tractive effort of the stud/patterning on the sole the footwear is not adequate to perform it's task.

The top clubs can't even their act together about playing kit and that's discounting boots so...........................

If you wear longer studs you're speed and agility will be affected. Clubs and players will take the odd slip (which can happen with longer studs anyway) over being slower/less of a step.

Also no need for old style rugby boots these days due to how the scrums are now and no competition at the play the ball. So there's no need for that extra support or protection of the ankle and again that can affect a players pace and step.

Yep, a compromise has to be made somewhere, I doubt if any players let fashion dictate what boots they wear.