The New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner will make his USA rugby debut at this weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens. Ebner, who had been playing in the Hong Kong Tens tournament, replaces Carlin Isles in Mike Friday’s US squad.
Ebner announced his switch to rugby, aimed at securing a place at the Rio Olympic Games in August, last month. Including Hong Kong, he will have four HSBC Sevens World Series events in which to make his case.
A junior rugby international in a variety of backline positions, Ebner switched to football while at Ohio State university. With the Patriots, who took him in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, he has become a special teams player, collecting a Super Bowl ring in 2015.
Shortly after agreeing a new two-year, $2.4m deal at Foxborough, he took a leave of absence to pursue an Olympic place.
On a conference call with reporters, he said: “I am absolutely not guaranteed a spot. I have to try out for the team like anybody else and I have to earn a spot like anybody. I’m just lucky to even have the opportunity to even try.”
This week, Ebner told ESPN about the influence of his father, Jeff, on his rugby career. Jeff Ebner was murdered in 2008.
“It would have meant a lot for him to witness this and be a part of this,” Ebner said. “I think he would be proud of what I’m doing and the light this is shining on rugby in the states. He loved playing rugby, and I’ll do anything to give back to this sport that has given me so much.”
In the Hong Kong Tens, Ebner had been playing for the Samurai invitational team. The Hong Kong Sevens, the blue riband event of the shortened game, kicks off on Friday, with the finals on Sunday.
The USA are drawn in Pool C with Australia, Argentina and Portugal. The double World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams is due to play for New Zealand.
Isles, a former college football player and sprinter who made headlines with his switch to sevens, missed the last series event, in Vancouver in March. He is attempting to represent the US in rugby and sprinting in Rio.
It was not clear if injury had forced his withdrawal from the Hong Kong squad. USA Rugby did not immediately return an enquiry.
