The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MASSEURS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
M
A
S
S
E
U
R
S
More clues leading to the result MASSEURS
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "rubbers" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rubbers = masseurs.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MASSEURS mean?
MASSEURS noun- (massage) A person (especially male) who performs massage.
- An instrument used in the performance of massage.