Sam Warburton weighs in on Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL move and what it means for Welsh rugby
Former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton.
Wales legend Sam Warburton is concerned by the state of Welsh rugby but insists that Louis Rees-Zammit’s defection to American football is not as a result of the country’s issues.
The 23-year-old shocked the sport when he announced his departure, joining the international player pathway programme with the aim of playing in the NFL.
Rees-Zammit came closer to realising his dream by signing a three-year deal with the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
Differing opinions
While the wing insisted that playing American football has always been an ambition, some believed that it was another example of Welsh rugby’s struggles.
Warburton disagrees, however, and stated that they should be “more concerned” by seeing the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso choosing England.
“Is his move a reflection on the sad state of Welsh rugby right now?” he wrote in his Times column. “Has the pull of the famous red jersey waned? I’m not sure his example is the barometer.
“I’m more concerned as to why, having watched Exeter Chiefs last weekend, there are so many Welsh players in their squad — think of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Hawkins, Dan John, Oli Burrows, Iestyn Harris, Kane James, Orson James and Iwan Jenkins.
“They have all come through the Welsh system, with Feyi-Waboso obviously having now opted for England instead.”
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Warburton believes that the current hierarchy can be absolved of criticism for now with the issues deriving from calls made by previous Welsh chiefs.
“The system in Wales is clearly not working, but it is not about the leadership of the Welsh Rugby Union now. This is the result of decisions made long ago,” he wrote.
“As I have mentioned before, the academies not being centralised and instead being run by the regions has significantly affected the player pathway.
“Too many players are going to schools, universities and clubs in England, with a number then playing for England at age-grade level.”
England or Wales
Although several Welsh-born players are preferring to join English Premiership academies, Warburton insists that it doesn’t mean they will play for the Red Rose at international level.
The former captain is adamant that he would have only chosen Wales, irrespective of whether his educational and sporting development had been done in England.
“I heard Jonathan Davies (the former fly-half) say the other day that even if he had gone to school at Millfield in England (as Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams did), he would still have wanted to play for Wales,” he added.
“And that was how I felt. I have a lot of English heritage, but I could only ever have played for Wales. Maybe now the pull of the jersey is not as big as it once was.”
