The NFL will be represented at the Rio Olympics.
New England Patriots safety and special-teams ace Nate Ebner was selected to the 12-man Team USA rugby roster Monday morning.
Rugby is returning to the Olympics after a 92-year absence. The version used now is known as "sevens" — seven players to a side on a field the size of a soccer pitch. A match consists of two seven-minute halves separated by a two-minute intermission.
Ebner told USA TODAY Sports that sevens equates to "full-blown action — the hardest 15 minutes of anything I've ever done."
Drafted in 2012 and a member of New England's Super Bowl XLIX champions following the 2014 season, Ebner will join Herschel Walker as the only man to participate in the Olympics after already playing in the NFL. (Several athletes joined the NFL after competing in the Games.)
The U.S. is essentially the defending champion, having won gold in 1920 and 1924 in 15-man rugby. Team USA is presently viewed as a legitimate contender for the upcoming Games, but Fiji is considered the favorite.
After re-signing with the Patriots in March, Ebner, who'd played rugby since childhood and was a member of the national team as a teenager, took a leave of absence in a bid to fulfill his Olympic dream.
That's now a reality.
The six-day tournament in Rio will begin Aug. 6. The Patriots open training camp July 27 and will be awaiting Ebner's arrival once he returns.
"It's been great. These guys are all great guys, humble guys," said Ebner. "I'm lucky to be teammates with them and call them my friends. Been a good opportunity, good learning experience. I've gotten to travel to Hong Kong and Singapore and London and Paris.
"I've left everything I possibly could out there and would have absolutely no regret or change anything I've done."
Joining Ebner will be team captain Madison Hughes, Zack Test, Folau Niua, Danny Barrett, Garrett Bender, Maka Unufe, Perry Baker, Carlin Isles, Andrew Durutalo, Chris Wyles and Ben Pinkelman.
Coach Mike Friday didn't initially think Ebner had a good chance to make the cut but has clearly been impressed by his progress over the last four months and likes the overall construction of the squad.
"(T)he squad itself represents the country on so many levels and is cosmopolitan in makeup, which is a true reflection of the country," said Friday. "The team is balanced in terms of physicality, power, X-factor and out-and-out pace.
"The squad has some big temperament players within it, and is underpinned by a strong work ethic and relentless approach to stay in any arm wrestle. This is the grit we need to exhibit along with our athletic ability."
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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
