Nate Ebner sinbinned for this massive blindside hit. Just like special teams. BB smiles somewhere pic.twitter.com/SSQrHuTHcb
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 9, 2016
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Rugby is already a tough enough sport, but Olympians in Rio de Janeiro now have something else to fear.
New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner is on leave from training camp in order to play for the United States National Rugby Sevens Team in the Summer Games.
On Tuesday, Ebner had the full support of his Boston Brothers as he helped Team USA to a 26-0 thumping of Brazil. He scored his first try and was given a penalty for a big blindside hit on a Brazilian player. Coach Bill Bellichick gave his players a breakt to watch Ebner compete.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady showed his support for Ebner on Facebook.
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"Great start!!! Pumped watching my Patriotsteammate Nate Ebner and Team USA Rugby in their matchup against Brazil! #OneTeam #USA#LetsGooooo," Brady wrote in a post.
The Patriots are showing its support at training camp as its coaches wear Ebner's No. 12 USA jerseys.
Ebner, 27, is from Dublin, Ohio and was signed by the Patriots in 2012 out of Ohio State. He has 11 career tackles and two fumble recoveries. He signed a two-year, $2.4 million deal in March. Ebner took a leave of absence from the Patriots in May.
Ebner earned team MVP honors for the US junior rugby squad in the 2007 Under-19 IRB Junior World Championship and in the 2008 Under-20 IRB Junior World Championship.
The rugby competition ends Aug. 11.
"It's a great opportunity for him to follow his passion, participate in the Olympic Games," Belichick told NBC Sports. "We're pulling for him to bring back something around his neck."
