6 Best Number 8's In The World Have Been Named And Ranked

Best Number 8's In The World:

#6. Alex Dombrandt

• Age: 25
• Test caps: 7
• Nation: England
• Club: Harlequins

Alex Dombrandt facts:

1. Dombrandt began playing rugby at the age of six for Warlingham R.F.C in Surrey
2. 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
3. However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play for Wales at Test level
4. He played no rugby for representative sides or a professional academy before joining Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2015
5. 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:

1. Faletau was born in Tofoa, Tonga, to Tongan international Kuli Faletau, who represented Tonga at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
2. He started his career at prop but was later moved to number 8
3. As a young boy, his school friends struggled to pronounce his Tongan name, and so he picked up the nickname Toby
4. The Faletaus are good friends with the Vunipola family. England forwards Billy and Mako Vunipola describe Taulupe Faletau as their ‘cousin’
5. Faletau is in a long-term relationship with Charlotte Rhys Jones, who is the sister of Welsh footballer Gareth Bale’s wife Emma

#4. Duane Vermeulen

• Age: 36
• Test caps: 63
• Nation: South Africa
• Club: Ulster

#3. Caelan Doris (Ireland)

• Age: 23
• Test caps: 21
• Nation: Ireland
• Club: Leinster

Caelan Doris facts:

• He missed the entire 2021 Six Nations due to concussion symptoms and could only return to action after problems with concentration, speech and short-term memory had eased
• He has a pet dog, named Woody

#2. Gregory Alldritt (France)

• Age: 25
• Test caps: 32
• Nation: France
• Club: La Rochelle

#1. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

• Age: 29
• Test caps: 68
• Nation: New Zealand
• Club: Hurricanes

Ardie Savea facts:

1. He is the younger brother of Julian Savea, the All Blacks winger who won 54 caps between 2012 and 2017
2. Savea made his international debut on 11 June 2016, coming off the bench for Sam Cane in a 39-21 win over Wales at Eden Park
3. He captained New Zealand for the first time in his 53rd appearance on 5 September 2021 against Australia in Perth.
4. The number 8 was nominated for World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in 2019 but lost out to South African Pieter-Steph du Toit