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 twohalf-backs in a team, partnering thescrum-half.[1][2][3] As the name suggests, the five-eighth is the go between the half-back and thethreequarters (5⁄8 is between1⁄2 and3⁄4), moving the ball from the contested middle to the outside backs.[4] In a traditional 'back-line' attack (No. 1-7),[5] the five-eighth, sometimes known as the pivot or second receiver,[6] receives the ball from the half-back,[7] 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.[8][9] Furthermore, players in this position typically assume responsibility for kicking the ball for field position in general play.[10][11] 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.[12][13] Over time, however, as the game has evolved, the roles of the two halves have grown more aligned and difficult to distinguish.[14] Along with other key positions –fullback, hooker and half-back – the five-eighth makes up what is known as a team's spine.[15]
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.[16]
TheRugby League International Federation'sLaws of the Game state that the "Stand-off half or Five-eighth" is to be numbered 6.[17] 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 who was involved in the scrum by feeding the ball into it; and the name "stand-off half" was given to the one who stood off to the side of the scrum.[18] In Britain, where rugby league originated, this terminology has been retained.[19] 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.[20] 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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