Impact of Brexit on British (and Ulster) clubs

Brexit will mean the probable loss of South African, and Island players from the club game. The Kolpak ruling by the European Court prevents sports clubs/organizations from limiting numbers of players from these countries. I'm also assuming the Cotonou agreement that allows members of African states, Pacific Islands and Caribbean to work in Europe, will also be invalidated.  Not completely but numbers will drop. Essentially leaving the EU means the end of the Kolpak, ruling that allowed English clubs along Welsh, Scottish regions, along with Ulster to hire any South African, Tongan, Fijian and Samoan essentially as a local player. I assume these players will now need work permits.

As a point of transition, existing employment contracts probably get grandfathered in but you might be right, there are restrictions coming.

Last thing to be worrying about to be fair. Hopefully more countries will follow and we are seeing the end of the EU.

Not grey and not a ghost wrote:Brexit will mean the probable loss of South African, and Island players from the club game. The Kolpak ruling by the European Court prevents sports clubs/organizations from limiting numbers of players from these countries. I'm also assuming the Cotonou agreement that allows members of African states, Pacific Islands and Caribbean to work in Europe, will also be invalidated.  Not completely but numbers will drop. Essentially leaving the EU means the end of the Kolpak, ruling that allowed English clubs along Welsh, Scottish regions, along with Ulster to hire any South African, Tongan, Fijian and Samoan essentially as a local player. I assume these players will now need work permits.

Brexit makes no difference.

Kolpak only stops PRL whatever from limiting the players as foreign players (which the PRL and County cricket has a limited on currently) and why Football never mention Kolpak.

Players coming from Islands and SA etc still needed a working visa to play with Kolpak just Working holiday Visa

PRL will likely scrap the Foreign player ruling or adjust it to include players from certain areas.


Probable my arse.