Stand-offs such as France'sThomas Bosc require good passing skills.
Five-eighth orstand-off is one of thepositions in arugby league football team. Wearing jersey number 6, this player is one of the two half backs in a team, partnering thescrum-half.[1][2][3] Sometimes known as the pivot or second receiver,[4] in a traditional attacking 'back-line' (No. 1-7)[5] play, the five-eighth would receive the ball from the halfback,[6] who is the first receiver of the ball from the dummy-half orhooker following atackle.
The role of the five-eighth is often to pass the ball away from the congested area around the tackle, further out along the 'back-line' to the outside backs, the centres and wingers, who have more space to run with it.[7][8] Furthermore, players in this position typically assume responsibility for kicking the ball for field position in general play.[9][10] The five-eighth is therefore considered one of the most important positions, often referred to as a 'play maker', assuming a decision-making role on the field.[11][12] Over time, however, as the game has evolved, the roles of the two halves have grown more aligned and difficult to distinguish.[13] Along with other key positions –fullback, hooker and halfback – the five-eighth makes up what is known as a team's spine.[14]
One book published in 1996 stated that in senior rugby league, the five-eighth and hooker handled the ball more often than any other positions.[15]
TheRugby League International Federation'sLaws of the Game state that the "Stand-off half or Five-eighth" is to be numbered 6.[16] However, traditionally players' jersey numbers have varied, and in the modernSuper League, each squad's players are assigned individual numbers regardless of position.
Wally Lewis was voted Australia's greatest ever five-eighth in 2008.
Traditionally inrugby football, there have always been two half-backs as well asscrums involving the forwards. Of the two half backs, the name "scrum half" was given to the one which was involved in the scrum by feeding the ball into it and the name "stand-off half" was given to the one which stood off to the side of the scrum.[17] In Britain, where rugby league originated, this terminology has been retained.[18] InAustralian English, however, "five-eighth" is the term used for the number 6, to differentiate from the "half back" which is the name commonly given to the number 7.[19] In New Zealand, both terms appear to be used interchangeably.
^Tim Rogers and Richard Beesley (2006).Fitness for Rugby League(PDF). Australia: coachrugbyleague.com.au. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2012-10-21. Retrieved2013-09-04.
^Collins, Tony (1998). "Racial minorities in a marginalized sport: Race, discrimination and integration in British rugby league football".Immigrants & Minorities.17:151–169.doi:10.1080/02619288.1998.9974933.
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