NFL Safety Nate Ebner Going to Rio With USA Rugby

New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner will play for the U.S. men's rugby team at the 2016 Olympics. He is expected to become the first active NFL player to compete at a Summer Olympics.

Ebner announced in March that he was taking a leave of absence from offseason football workouts to compete for a spot on the U.S. rugby team at the Rio Games, where rugby sevens is making its Olympic debut. He is expected to rejoin the Patriots after the Olympics.

Ebner and former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best are set to become the first two athletes with previous NFL experience to compete at a Summer Games. Best will run the 100m for Saint Lucia. 

Other players on the U.S. men’s rugby team include Carlin Isles, who is considered the fastest man in rugby, and captain Madison Hughes.

The women’s squad includes Jillion Potter, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, stage III Synovial sarcoma, less than two years ago.

View the complete roster here:

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