Here we pick our top five best number 8's of all time. We’ve used a number of stats to quantify our rankings, as well as a player’s overall contribution to the game. So who makes it into our top five?
The controlling force behind the scrum, the number eight completes the pack and must be incredibly strong and are the key ball winners with the muscle of forwards and pace of the backs.
Normally tall and athletic, but incredibly strong, they are key ball winners with the strength of forwards and the speed of some backs
All stats come from ESPN.com and are correct as of the publish date.
Honourable mentions: Wayne Shelford (New Zealand), Dean Richards (England)
5 Best Number 8's Of All Time
#5. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Death, taxes and Read unpicking defences in the 15-metre channel were three inevitabilities during his incredible career. The champion No.8 was a member of New Zealand teams that won the World Cup in 2011 and 2015 and he was voted World Rugby Player of the Year in 2013.
Read also won four Super Rugby titles with New Zealand's Crusaders. Making his All Blacks debut in 2008, Read assumed the captaincy from Richie McCaw in 2016 and led the All Blacks to the semi-final at the 2019 World Cup before ending his international career in 2020.
Did you know? Read is the third most-capped All Blacks in history with 127 Test appearances - 52 of them as skipper.
HRH Prince Harry shares a laugh with Kieran Read of New Zealand - Photo mandatory by-line: Gareth Davies/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 31/10/2015 - SPORT - RUGBY UNION - RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 FINAL - New Zealand v Australia - Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England.
#4. Sergio Parisse (Italy)
The 6ft 5in Italian was outstanding in the lineout and had the flair and pace across the ground to gain valuable ground when the Azzurri drives forward. Parisse won the first of his 142 caps to date at the age of 18 and aged 38 he could still add to that tally after signing a contract extension with Toulon.
#3. Mervyn Davies (Wales)
The late Wales and British Lions Number 8 Thomas “Mervyn” Davies is the only player on this list from the pre-World Cup era. He won a Triple Crown in his first international season in 1968 before claiming a Grand Slam and being selected for the Lions' famous tour of New Zealand in 1971. He then skippered Wales to the Five Nations Championship in 1975 before winning the Grand Slam the following year but was forced to retire at the age of 29 due to injury. Davies sadly lost a long battle with cancer on March 16, 2012 - just one day before Wales went for a possible Grand Slam against France.
Did you know? He was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2001 and the following year a poll of Welsh rugby fans saw him voted the greatest ever Welsh captain and the greatest ever Welsh No.8.
#2. Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
Lawrence Dallaglio is probably the most decorated number eight in the history of the game. The former England Skipper simply won everything possible in the game: including a World Cup, a Lions tour, World Cup Sevens, Heineken Cup, European Challenge Cup, English Premiership and the English domestic cup. He won a total of 85 caps during an international career that spanned 12 years from 1995 to 2007 while also making three appearances for the British and Irish Lions.
Did you know? Dallaglio was the only player to play every minute during England's triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign.
#1. Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
Topping the list is All Black Zinzan Brooke. He was an effective forward but also had top class handling skills and a trustworthy boot making him quite the unique player. During his international career that spanned a decade from 1987 to 1997, he played in two World Cups in 1991 and 1995 scoring an unforgettable drop goal from 47 metres out against England in the latter. Brooke in total played 58 tests for New Zealand, scoring 89 points.
Did you know? As well as rugby union, Brooke played Gaelic football, both before and after his rugby career.
