What does the rugby term five-eighth mean?

Question

I know that first five-eighth is translatable to fly-half, and second five-eighth is the same as inside center, but I want to now the origin of the term.

USA Rugby Rules!!!!

Answer 1

The guys above are right its a fly/outside half or no.10.

The clue is in the name. You've heard of the half back (scrum half) add a little more and you get five-eighth (fly half), then on to the three quarters (centres & wing) and then on to the full back (which speaks for itself).

Answer 2

In northern hemisphere (English speaking*) rugby, the backs are classified accordingly:

2 half-backs

4 three-quarters

1 fullback

The halfbacks are known as scrum- and fly-half.  (Occasionally you will hear "Inside Half" and "Outside Half" although these - especially the former - are somewhat rare).  3/4s consist of two centers and two wings...sometimes you will hear the term "Wing Three Quarter" though that's also a tad rare.  As there is only one fullback, he gets no special name...he's just the full back.

In the Antipodes, the classification is instead:

1 halfback

2 five-eighths

3 three-quarters

1 fullback

Just as the fullback, being only one in his class, gets no special name, so too the #9 in New Zealand is known simply as the "halfback".  The term "scrumhalf" is much less used there.

The five-eighths are what we call the flyhalf (1st 5/8) and inside center (2nd 5/8).

With only 3 three-quarters, you have two wings and a center.  Being the only center, he is not called the "Outside Center" as we would say...he is just the "Center".

*In France and Italy, all backs (9-15) are referred to as 3/4s, as somehow the exact meaning of the term did not quite translate.

Answer 3

First 5/8 is the #10. its called the first 5/8 because the 10 is supposed to be responsible for the first 5/8 of the field (the side with the ruck, maul or scrum) the second 5/8 watches the other side.

The 2nd 5 is generally more concerned with defence because the side with the ruck or maul has flankers still there who can tackle whoever makes it as far as the ten.  It was a name used in the original game that had already evolved by the time it got to North America, which is why North Americans don't use the term.

Go the Canadians at the RWC! I reckon they'll make the quarters ahead of the welsh.

Answer 4

its aussie rugby n it means stand off than rugby leaugue

Answer 5

Five-eighth is another name for Fly-half, number 10.

The fly-half position is a portmanteau of flying half back.

More information here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union...