Yep while not liking to see young players going overseas, can kind of understand it. Outside of rugby even, look how many young people do the OE for a couple of years, I think a change of lifestyle helps, and with so many grades of semi and fully pro rugby for players must be really attractive. I coached a team of kids in Levin in NZ, where 4 of them eventually played semi pro in NH while enjoying the different lifestyle. Had a nephew who went over as well. and know quite a number , just from a little place like that who went.
I agree pathways help, but not all kids see making it as a pro player in SH, so perhaps go overseas and some actually develop a little later and do well over there in bigger pro set ups?