Nate Ebner has said that playing in the Rio Olympics this summer was a dream come true, and though Team U.S.A.'s run ended months ago, Nate is still feeling the love from the rugby world.
Before the Olympics and before Nate had secured a spot on Team U.S.A.'s roster, he had a chance to play in the Hong Kong Football Club 10s Tournament for Samurai International RFC, one of sport's most well known invitational teams, and this week he was named their International Player of the Year.
The award is given to an international player who exceled in 2016, and in an Instagram posted on Tuesday, Nate said this honor meant a great deal to him.
"Honored to be named Samurai International Player of The Year!! Without Samurai, who knows if my Olympic Journey would have ever happened," Nate wrote. "Thank you to everyone in the organization for allowing me to be a part of a first class group... And always looking clean in the best gear!!"
Samurai ultimately lost in the championship of the Hong Kong tournament, but Nate made an impression, landing a spot on Team U.S.A. In Team U.S.A.'s two games in Rio, Nate scored two tries, and Patriots Nation cheered him on the whole way there.
