August 9th - Leaving New York in the afternoon, I released, here I was on my way to New Zealand. I was pretty nervous.My first flight was to into LA which took about 5 hours followed by the 14 hours to New Zealand which really tough, but got through it. I missed my last flight as I was delayed going threw customs and security for a pair of rugby boots! Had to hang in the airport for a while until I could catch the next one.
I was met at the final destination by the gentleman I was staying with, and once we got my bags we took the short drive to Palmerston North where I was going to be staying. Drive was a bit strange as I was sitting on the US drivers side and he was driving from the passenger seat!
Was glad to get to the house and settling in as the time change was really messing me up and was feeling a little home sick. We went out for dinner and when we got back, I just crashed in my room. Its so cold here, wasn't ready for that after coming from a hot Summer on New York.
August 10th - I'm going to Wellington today to buy some gear! As I am in a huge rugby store I’m looking around for kit going crazy then all of a sudden a young fella come up to me about 8 or 9 years old and asked where I was from. I responded and said New York then he asked what I was here for and I told him I was going to IRANZ. It was weird that he knew my name! He asked me a couple of questions and asked to take a photo. He then tells me to hang on and bring back a piece of paper and pen and asked me if I can sign it for him. I did it with honor and I was really excited after that. I am doing fine after some rest and getting ready for the Academy that starts on Saturday. Thursday evening I went out to subway and bought a chicken beacon ranch foot long, then made my way back to the place I was staying and watched some rugby until I fell asleep.August 13th - Friday morning I woke up early to get ready to go on a tramping hunt. It took us about two hours to get there. It was a really nice place though the weather was cold. We took a walk then went back to the house and when the sun set we went back on a hunt to shoot some possums which was so much fun. After killing possums we made our way back home for dinner, after we we’re done with dinner we played a game of monopoly to end our night.
August 14th - Woke up extra early, got my stuff together and before I knew it I was on my way to IRANZ . On my way to camp I didn’t know what to expect, I was nervous it felt as if it was my first day of school. It took me about an hour to arrive at the institute. As I approached the academy, I met Steve McHardy he was a really nice guy. As I took my bags out of the car the receptionist took me to the room I was to stay in for about a week. I unpacked and relaxed in my room until my first meeting which was at 10 o’clock am. As I walked into the team room, I had my name tag on and two binders with me. As I go through one binder, I see a roster with everyone that was attending the course and it just so happened to be I was the only kid from the United States. I was flattered. During our meeting we spoke about nutrition and other health tips that we should follow. The biggest part came right after, fitness testing. First we had a 60 meter run x2 then a 400 meter run then a 1500 meter run. I got the fastest 60 meter run as well as the 400 meter run. I came in third place for the 1500 meter run. I was pleased with my standards but I knew I needed to work on my fitness more. After fitness we had lunch I made a couple of friends and as soon as we finished eating we made our way to our next session which was basic passing. Then recovery which was thirty seconds in the hot bath and thirty seconds in the ice bath x3 which we called hot’n’cold’s.
August 15th - So it’s 7 am Sunday morning and I had rice crispies and two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast. A little after breakfast, we had strength assignments to see where our standards stood at weight lifting. It went well. After we had stretch and strength with Carolynn Margan who works with the Hurricanes and All blacks. She gave us some very important stretches so we won't cramp up and get injured during any work out. Next session was running calls and set phase attacks. Following this session was lunch, I couldn’t wait. Then another lecture about nutrition then another session about vision and decision making in a team environment these sessions were being held in the green room which is a indoor facility. Then after we had a self massage and injury prevention held by Carolynn, which she gave us very helpful massages to do on our own to prevent injuries. Then a half an our of hot’n’colds followed by dinner, and then a team meeting discussing values and standards for our team. We also spoke about trust and commitment and honesty for this week, these standards we’re guaranteed to bring our team together. Went back to our rooms and got ready for fitness at 6:30 am on Monday.
August 16th - Its 6:30am and I had a scheduled session with Scott Pinfold who was our trainer. After this session we had breakfast then another session of knowledge of zones, team pattern, sequencing and it was all so helpful for our team. Then a lecture in the team room about mental skills , also teaching us how to concentrate before a game and taking pressure off ourselves. Then a big session about back skills this is when everything came in. We started creating our backline little by little after this was done we went to lunch hung out for a few then had gym technique, then tackle and defensive skills. Followed to team defense I was putting myself out there pretty good making good passes, good decisions etc. Then recovery, followed by 30 minutes of mental skills, after which I ate some good dinner and went to bed to get my rest for a hard Tuesday. 
August 17th - Same routine woke up at 6:30am this session was about speed and agility. Next was a session about mental skills this session taught us ownership and how to work through and 80 minute game. I have been feeling really comfortable these four days but the course was getting harder and harder. We also had a session about refereeing. I didn’t know there was so many laws about the game, they taught us so much. We had a contact and breakdown session with Liam Barry, teaching us how to step into the tackle. Then we had another session about mental skills and a session on back attack and unit skills. This is when the back line started making plays, how to react in defense situations etc . Every single session helped me out so much although I had a lot of pressure on me I managed to pull through. After that session we had a team patterns session which taught us where to be on defense. Then we had a big session on line-outs and back skills where there was also a coaches course going on, so there was a lot of coaches around the facility helping out and watching. Then straight into a half an hour of recovery, dinner, and position specific analysis. We watched the blues play and had to observe our position. As Tuesday wrapped up, I started to realize the real life of being a rugger.August 18th - Got up out of bed looked in the mirror and said “wow, one day before game day”. Fitness happened to be canceled because our bodies needed rest. This day I was really using the mental skills they taught us I was listening to some tunes getting my mind set. I had some breakfast then had some fitness debrief where they showed us our standards from the fitness testing held Saturday, August 14th. Scott pinfold got standards from International , Super 14, Academy level and u20 level. They colored your standard with one of these levels a South African flanker and I was the only one that had colors out of the rest of the guys in the academy. I was proud of myself but I knew I still had a lot of work to do. I took this into mind and made it into my business.
After that great session we had a team meeting preparing ourselves for game day. We discussed values and standards and most importantly team work We are brothers from the day we met to the day we leave and in the future. I was very comfortable with the guys I know that we had this under control. We did a session of restarts such as kick off and then a team run session going through some phases. Lunch time, then a quiz which I happened to get a 99% on. I got one forward question wrong after that we had a session of Quantum Sport with my mentor Eroni Clarke. He told us about characters and not just rugby but about succeeding in life. He also told us people who have potential but happen to follow the wrong route. He also explained to us that the way we present ourselves are the way people are going to see us. This session made me realize so much growing up in the Bronx, NY. there is so many kids that joined our u19 program but they decided to go down the wrong route and become nothing. I started to think about myself because my coaches told me I was really good in rugby but I wasn’t doing good in school. However, as I've got older, I realize how important things are in life at that moment and I smiled and said to myself “look at where Im at now, for all the hard work I did”. So that was a really great session.
Then we had a session about team attack, how to attack as a team when the ball is out, when the ball drops, kick off etc. and a team session preparing ourselves as much as we can. We just worked on plays kicking and chasing defensive structures on all those things. Then came recovery and another session of Quantum Sport. This time we filled out some papers about great moments in our life, goals we want to achieve, and lessons learned. These sessions were absolutely great. I asked Eroni Clarke a lot of questions and he gave me some great answers so I can prepare myself better now before games.
After that we had dinner, then one on one meetings where I had a meeting with the coach Dave Ellis. He spoke to me about developing as a player and how I’m a great player with potential, and that he wants to end his life by hearing I did good things in the future. He told me so much about my game I need to work on because there is always space for improvement. I learned a lot in that one on one meeting with him. Afterwards, I went back to my room and listened to music for about an hour and wrote down some things in my journal that I want to accomplish for tomorrow. This has been a really long week and Thursday was right there a big day at the academy. I got my stuff ready and got some rest.
This also brought the team a lot closer I got things like, best step, good pass, good technical player, good with ball skills good things like that. We spoke good about each other. The following team meeting was stronger then other ones. This one was getting down to business. We spoke about things that count. We wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page because today was a big day. We spoke about all the plays we worked on all week and then we had a team run to go through everything. I think this was the best team run we ever had we looked like a team no dropped balls everybody was a position of use early. We looked like a team then after this we had a training with the specialist coaches this is when I met the great ol’ Eroni Clarke, who taught me so much about my position. I learned a lot of things, things like C.H.A.D and I applied all the information to my game.
After we spoke, we went out to practice after another team run, and everybody came back and did what the specialized coaches asked for. Then there was a session for goal kicking for people who wanted to learn but I stood for a little then left. I wanted to get my mind set for the game. I used all my free time to think. I was thinking like I'm going to go out there and represent myself, my club, my family, and God. I didn’t know what to expect, but this is when I find out where my skills are.
We got some lunch, then it was team strapping time where everybody was getting taped up. I taped my shoulder, my wrist and put my brothers name on it, and I also taped my knee so I can give it my all this game. After that I started to blast my ipod and get in the game. I got kitted up and was waiting for jersey presentation. When jersey presentation finally came there was over 250 people in the green room all the jerseys were set up on the table, they called forwards first and then backs. I was extremely nervous at this point, when my name was called they said “number 12, Jordan Torres”, Eroni Clarke presented me my jersey, he gave me a wink and said be proud. I was so proud of myself. I started and wore my number.
We took a team photo then went back to the locker room. I also took this time to focus, listened to my ipod put my jersey on and prayed to God. We went through our last team run and made sure everything was perfect. Next thing I know it was two minutes till game time. We got ourselves settled, jogged on to the field,. Man, everything was going through my mind and my heart was going faster then Usain Bolt. I knew I was ready after we got on our knees prayed, did a little haka and then it was game time. IRANZ was up against Manawatu u18’s select side. Kick off to us we caught it took it down then skipped it out to the backs, I got the ball first play of the game, I took the gap and got high tackled. I was getting hit pretty hard this whole game but I hit them hard right back. IRANZ didn’t get to much posession with the ball, but I was fearless in tackles and giving it my all. I ran great defensive lines, use great communication and realignment. We got scored on the outside but we kept our head up and kept pushing hard.
We played 80 minutes, this was the hardest game of my life but hey welcome to New Zealand rugby. I kept giving it my all. Every break I would talk to Eroni and he would tell me what to do and I will apply it in my game and that’s what made me do better. When the game was over I was totally beat up, I never been as sore before. We spoke about it and was proud of ourselves. We did a recovery then it was our final dinner. At dinner time, general manager Steve McHardy said “we have some awards to present” well they gave out the awards for people who won mini competitions then they gave out the important awards of the course. The first award was back of the camp/best back. They said this award goes out to someone who worked there hardest, everything he learned he applied in his game, his skills were on point and he stood out most. As Eroni walked up I said “uh oh, I think it might be me” and he says this award goes to Jordan Torres from the US. When I heard that I nearly cried. Words couldn’t explain how I felt, I was really proud of myself. They gave me my award we shook hands and I said a thank you speech to the coaches, the players, and everybody in the facility. I made sure everybody was thanked by me then I sat back down and felt good about myself. Everybody was saying congratulations including all the coaches I spoke with.
After dinner me and the guys relaxed for a little bit. We were all so exhausted, so we went to sleep. early. I went to my room packed and got ready for bed. As I was laying down, I was thinking about all the good things that happened today. I never been this happy before, it was great to get awarded so I prayed and then went to sleep.
August 20th - Woke up at 7:30 am to do a little recovery session but this time we played games, everybody was so sore. After we ate breakfast we all got individual feed back and analysis with specialized coaches, before sitting down to watch the game against Manawatu. We visualized things we could of done better and I wrote down some things for the future, We then we had our r last team meeting. Here they presented us certificates for being an IRANZ graduate. I was happy to get my certificate. It feels good to graduate from a hard course. Then after the coaches spoke to us about our future goals in rugby and that’s it, IRANZ was over. We got some lunch and little by little everybody started leaving. It was really hard saying good bye to my IRANZ brothers and to the coaches. I really didn’t want to leave but I had to. I said goodbye and I left. I was picked up by Aaron Mclean who was the person I was staying with. For my last day there he took me out to play with some lambs, and to see some deers. He showed me the life of a kiwi, after we got dinner went back home and watched some rugby. As I watched the rugby, I started to miss IRANZ more and more. I got a little tired so I went to my room to get some rest.
August 21st - I woke up about 8:30 am, got my stuff packed and drove to the airport. On my way to the airport I was saying to myself I don’t want to leave New Zealand, I wish I can stay here. I hung out with Aaron and his spouse before my plane finally arrived and I had to say goodbye. There I was on my way back home.