Sam Warburton, a Welsh rugby legend, expressed his concerns about the state of Welsh rugby amidst Louis Rees-Zammit's departure to pursue a career in American football. Rees-Zammit, at just 23 years old, shocked the rugby world by joining the international player pathway program aiming to play in the NFL. While some view this move as a reflection of Welsh rugby's struggles, Warburton disagrees. He believes the focus should be on the exodus of Welsh talent to English clubs and academies, rather than the current leadership of the Welsh Rugby Union.

Despite the growing trend of Welsh players opting for English academies, Warburton maintains that true Welsh patriots will always choose to represent their country on the international stage.