Brexit could stifle rugby and cricket imports to Britain

Foreign rugby and cricket players could be ineligible to play in Britain if the UK leaves the European Union.

The United Kingdom will vote on Thursday whether to remain in, or leave the EU, and leaving could have an impact on the way foreign sports stars are employed.

Many rugby players arrive in the Aviva Premiership through the 'Cotonou agreement', a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

This allows citizens of countries from those areas which have signed European Union Association Agreements (EUAA) - such as Samoa and Fiji - to have the same right to freedom of work and movement within the EU as EU citizens.

In cricket, the 'Kolpak Ruling', which is also used in both codes of rugby, gives citizens of countries which have signed EUAA the same rights. Prior to that ruling, which was introduced in 2003, England and Wales Cricket Board rules had limited each county to one overseas, non-EU professional.

In rugby, a club may not play more than two 'foreign players' in any match. EU law means Kolpak players cannot be classed as a foreign player.

The extent to which rugby and cricket could be affected will be determined by what the government agrees as its terms for leaving the EU if a leave vote is returned in the referendum on June 23, and whether any agreement restricts the movement of persons and services

Kolpak players in rugby may be treated as any other foreign player. They would need to be an elite rugby player who has started once at international 15-a-side level during the last 15 months, from a tier one or two nation, or capped 10 times and started once in the last 15 months from other nations, to be able to play in the UK.

The ECB estimates around 6% of players will be affected out of 400 to 420 professional cricketers. In rugby, there were 72 Kolpak players in the Aviva Premiership last season.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Sale Sharks rugby boss Steve Diamond says foreign players have made a huge contribution to top-flight rugby in Britain.

He said: "A national competition like the Aviva Premiership would not be good if it was 100 per cent British. We need foreign impetus.

"You need skill sets from different nations who have played around the world to generate enthusiasm and generate crowds. People want to see the top class players from around the world."

Others, however, have claimed that the restriction on foreign players could be a good thing and could nurture homegrown talent. Former England Test bowler Dominic Cork says his own son may have struggled to make it due to the influx of Kolpak players.

"Do Kolpak players clog up county cricket that does not then allow younger players to go through and have that experience?" said Cork. "I can only talk about my son at the moment who is at Derbyshire, and he is in a squad that does have Kolpak players.

"My son is a 21-year-old who has come through the academy system. He's desperate to play first-class cricket. Would it help him if there are no Kolpak players available to play county cricket?

"For a sport to succeed, then you need the best players and if that involves Kolpak players in any sport, not just cricket, then I'm a believer that you get them."