FOXBORO, MASS. (WHDH) - Team USA has added a Patriot to its rugby team.
The USA Rugby team announced Monday that Patriots defensive back Nate Ebner will compete on the Olympic team headed to Rio next month.
Ebner, 27, was selected by the Patriots in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL draft. The Patriots granted him a leave of absence to try out for the rugby sevens team. Ebner was the youngest player ever to compete for the USA rugby sevens team when he played for the team as a 17-year-old in 2006.
Ebner went on to play rugby at Ohio State before walking on to the Buckeyes’ football team and eventually getting drafted in the NFL.
The Patriots said they supported Ebner in a post on Twitter back in March.
We are proud to support @Natebner34 in his effort to earn a place on the United States National Rugby team.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 15, 2016
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)