By Patrick Coleman
Wrentham Barbarian Youth Rugby was treated to a visit from a world class two sport athlete. Nate Ebner, the New England Patriots special team expert and member of the US Olympic Rugby team, joined the local club for a Wednesday night practice.
The seven year NFLer arrived prepared to play, dressed in his USA Rugby t-shirt and shorts. He even changed into his cleats to run up and down the pitch with the Barbarians. Ebner first shared a few words on how rugby played a huge role in his life and helped form lifelong friendships.
Ebner’s appreciation of rugby was repeated throughout the practice. He spoke of how the game had taken him all over the world, forged special relationships, and provided valuable life experiences. Now he wants to give back and help the sport reach young players so they might enjoy the game the way he does. “It is extremely important to me,” he said about growing the game.
He first started playing rugby when he was six and could only participate in touch practices held for the men. It wasn’t until he was older that he could actually play on his own team. To see a youth program like the Wrentham Barbarians impressed Ebner. “I wish I had something like this when I was a kid,” he said.
This desire to give back to the game was how Ebner ended up in Wrentham. He asked the Patriots Community Relations department to help him find programs to visit. That led to a call with the Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization (MYRO), and they suggested the Wrentham program. “The model here is terrific,” says MYRO’s Bill Good. “It’s a grassroot program that has developed over time.”
Good explained that rugby on all levels has a strong value system and places an emphasis on community. “You hear words like ‘respect’, ‘responsibility’, ‘teamwork’,” Good says. “Those are important to us. There’s a sense of a community that’s part of the game, and we’re trying to get kids involved in that early.”
The Patriot is doing his part for the local rugby community. He played sharks and minnows with the kindergarten and first grade players, declaring “I’m a shark.” The professional athlete kept his skills in check as Barbarian after Barbarian found ways to the move ball up the field and avoid Ebner's attempt to remove their flags.
After his time with the youngest players, Ebner moved over to the main pitch and joined the older kids for a game of touch. On the field he provided encouragement and served as a coach gently instructing players to “spread out” and “let the ball move.”
Ebner explained, “You coach the guy with the ball because you’re kind of his eyes behind him. That’s what we do on the field at the top level and that’s what you try and do with young kids. “
As his time with the Barbarians ran out, the players gathered around Ebner for a few more words. He spoke about the importance of passing, moving the ball, and communications and even sounded like his boss in Foxboro. “Sometimes it’s not your job to score,” he explained. “It’s your job to catch the ball and pass it as fast you can and get out nice and wide.”
He added, “It looks really good. Lots of enthusiasm. Let’s work on moving that ball.”
One of the younger players asked, “Do you drive a Lamborghini?”
Laughing, Ebner said he drives a Ford.
Before Ebner left he encouraged all the players to watch the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens starting July 20. He said that watching the best players in the world is a great way to learn the sport, and you never known were it might take you. “Keep working hard. Keep playing this game. You can get yourself on a USA team like I did, “ he said.
The evening was a success. Players, coaches, parents, and Ebner were all walking around with smiles. The fact that the Barbarians practice just 3 miles from the Patriots' homefield is an unusual but special situation. “To have a player like him in our backyard is exciting for us,” said Stephen Signes, Wrentham Barbarian Youth Rugby Club Leader.
While the season is almost over for the Barbarians, Signes says anyone interested in trying the game is welcome to come out. The program also offers a 10-week skills session starting in September that meets on Sunday mornings. Information will be available on the program’s website. ”If you want to come out and play, come out,” he says.
