RUCK followers have been voting to rank the best number 8’s in the world for 2022 – with one England star making the top six.
Support play, tackling and ball-carrying are the No.8’s areas of expertise, making his or her duties similar to the two flankers. Together the trio forms a unit called the back row.
Binding on right at the back of the scrum, the No.8 is also the only player from the forwards who are allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum.
It is a move that is often used to gain vital yards when a team is scrummaging close to the opposition try line, and for it to be truly effective the No.8 must be an explosive, dynamic runner.
Here then, is RUCK’s followers top six list of the best number 8’s in world rugby today:
Best Number 8’s In The World:
#6. Alex Dombrandt
- Age: 25
- Test caps: 7
- Nation: England
- Club: Harlequins
Alex Dombrandt facts:
- Dombrandt began playing rugby at the age of six for Warlingham R.F.C in Surrey
- He played for Wales under 20s in all five of their games in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, qualifying as a resident student at a Welsh university
- However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play for Wales at Test level
- He played no rugby for representative sides or a professional academy before joining Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2015
- On 10 July 2021 Dombrandt made his senior England Test debut in a 70-14 victory against Canada at Twickenham
#5. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
- Age: 31
- Test caps: 92
- Nation: Wales
- Club: Dragons
Taulupe Faletau facts:
- Faletau was born in Tofoa, Tonga, to Tongan international Kuli Faletau, who represented Tonga at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
- He started his career at prop but was later moved to number 8
- As a young boy, his school friends struggled to pronounce his Tongan name, and so he picked up the nickname Toby
- The Faletaus are good friends with the Vunipola family. England forwards Billy and Mako Vunipola describe Taulupe Faletau as their ‘cousin’
- Faletau is in a long-term relationship with Charlotte Rhys Jones, who is the sister of Welsh footballer Gareth Bale’s wife Emma