Help a young rugger go down under

Since starting a rugby life, I've been able to meet a lot of ruggers who embrace the sport with passion.  One such player I recently met hopes that his will take him to great heights.

Jordan Torres is a 16 year old lad who plays for New York Rugby Club on the U19 team. He lives in the Bronx with his mum, a single parent.  He had a rough year or two at school, but through his natural perseverance and hard work, he turned his grades around - and made the honor roll in all his classes!


Last year he was selected to play for the Met NY U17 All-Star Team.  At a recent Penn State rugby camp, he was named Man of the Match and selected as one of the five top players at the camp.  Ever since he started playing rugby, he has dreamed of attending the International Rugby Academy New Zealand (IRANZ) camps.  For those of you not familiar with the camps, they're held several times a year for two weeks all over the globe. The intensive camps are designed to help both players and coaches at all levels sharpen their skills in order to succeed in a rugby career.

Jordan has been inspired not only by fellow teammates who have gone to an IRANZ camp, but by his desire to play for the USA National side one day.  He also hopes that he can bring back what he learns to share with his teammates, and ultimately become an Eagle.

To realize his dream, Jordan plans to attend a camp hosted this summer in Palmerston North, New Zealand.  The cost - $4000 - is not cheap, but he has started fundraising. Over the course of the next few months, he'll be planning some events to help reach his target. 

With so many causes to support these days, you might wonder if this is one more you can afford. 

For my part, I have had the privilege to watch, play, and coach rugby in many different places.  Playing in Wales, partying in Sydney at the World Cup, coaching players under floodlights in the East Village: I have seen and experienced the transformational power of rugby.  And that is what I want others to have.  This is a life-changing experience for Jordan, one that will boost his own future rugby life.

Can you please make a donation to help Jordan travel to New Zealand?  The link is below - and remember, no amount is too small.  All proceeds will go directly to help Jordan go to camp.  Cheers.