Why is the position "First five eighths' so named?

Question

Why is the position "First five eighths' so named?

Answer 1

I remember asking my Dad that question when I was a kid.  I had no idea what the heck any of it meant but he said it goes back to a long time ago and something to do with measurements.  Dont know if it has anything to do with the metric/imperial thing.  It never made a whole lot of sense to me since I grew up in the metric system but he pointed out that the backs were all named in measurements.  Half back (scrum half) 1/2....... First and Second  Five Eigth (stand off/fly half, Inside Centre) 5/8... Centre Three Quarter and Wing Three Quarters (Outside Centre, Wings) 3/4.... and Fullback 1/1.

I cant tell you exactly why these measurements were used, but thats the full names of the backs.  Its always made me wonder why NZ has stuck with Halfback, First Five, Second Five and Centre when most other countries have switched to Scrum Half, Fly Half, Inside and Outside Centre.  We use Lock more than Second Row too.  I know lots of countries use all these terms, but in NZ the older ones are the norm.

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

cause Nathen fiend,Gerome Ropati and Simon Mannering play there? Go the Warriors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Just guessing.....Rugby full team is 15. First 5 is the threes (incl. flyhalf, inside centre, outside centre, right wing, left wing). First 8 is the forward (hooker, 2 props, 2 flankers, 2 second rows and 1 anchor/no 8). Another 2 is scrumhalf and fullback who is so hard to find the substitute. Am I right?

Answer 5

a first five eight is named because it's deeper than a halfback.  Since the half-back is nine, and the 10 man is farther back than that they needed a fraction which was larger than 1/2 so they picked 5/8