What is Number 8 In Rugby?

Question

O.k. well I'm pretty well experienced and Football and have played like me and my friends own version of Rugby with the overall theme and I really loved it. My high school has a Rugby team that I would like to join and I asked my friend who played on the team what position i would be good for. My friend said that I would be a good Number 8? What does this position do, and what position(s) would be its equivalent in Football?

Answer 1

The 8 Man

is a speedier forward involved alot more with possesion.  when I played 8 Man, I called rotation plays, defensive attack positions from set pieces, ruck and maul plays, pre-set man positioning on line-outs and would try and get to the ball to maintain possession as quick as possible.  

Plus as an 8 man your in good hitting position to level the man receiving the scissors pass / cut back pass on the other team ---- boom shoulder in the chest, wrapping the feet, squeeze and drive the back of the ball carriers body into the ground...... ooh fun fun fun fun!

In football you might have to look at many positions.

Offense maybe a guard or center or fullback in a Spread Offense

Defense maybe a linebacke or Stand up defensive end with speed and agility.

in reality - i think they're unrelated comparisons.

Answer 2

the Eight man anchors the scrum he packs in at the back the eight man should be big strong mobile  good ball skills fast and very fit the eight man is the enforcer on defence and the extra hand on attack  diffrent countries play diffrent styles tho im from new zealand and well this is whats expected from most number eights over here

Answer 3

Number 8s stay at the back of the scrum. They do a lot more running and passing than other forwards, so it's a harder position to play.

Answer 4

yeah number 8 is at the back of the scrum, in a forward position, basically everytime a ruck or a mall breaks out you will have to be there getting stuck, cant really compare to footy as different game but alot of running as you have to be there wherever the ball comes to a stop.

Answer 5

I have never played American football, so wouldn't know the equivalent, but the no 8 is at the back of the scrum, responsible for enabling the ball to come out of the back - this means moving your feet so that the scrum half can get the ball out. The no 8 is one of the first to break away from the scrum, and therefore one of the first at breakdowns - you can't be afraid of contact! You also will often be involved in taking the ball into contact - mauling etc. A similar position to playing flanker, involving a high level of fitness, a lot of tackles, but not as much driving force in the scrums as the big five.

Answer 6

Number 8 = scrum half

This means you will pick the ball up from the back of scrums and look to pass it. If you are a scrum half it requires a lot of running

Answer 7

No 8 is the player that packs down at the back of the scrum. He is one of the 3 loose forwards in a forward pack.

It is an important position for controlling the transfer of ball from forwards to backs. I would not play a new inexperienced player there.

Tell the coach thats what you want to try , but be prepared to play other positions while you get the "feel / hang" of the game.

Answer 8

Number 8's the one who gets a good whiff of the locks' butts.

Answer 9

Number  is a hard position to play

If you have good ball control , good running speed ( you do have to have a bit of weight and muscle behind you)

and a naturl leading ability then I say go for it

you have to have a fairly solid defensive game too

Answer 10

They push in the back of the scrum

they are usually the big strong bulky ones.

and it is just called number 8

Answer 11

Don't listen to anne b. Scrum half actually has the number 9 on his/her back, whereas a Number 8, not surprisingly, has the number 8 on his/her back. Aside from numerology, a scrum half is also known as the halfback (ie. one of the backs), whereas the Number 8 is one of the loose forward trio (ie. one of the forwards).