rather than maximise their handout from the ECB. The influx reached a peak in 2008 when, during a match between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, half the players on the field were from non-EU countries. In 2008, the EU changed its reading of the Cotonou Agreement, the Association Agreement between the EU and the ACP countries. It then stated that the Cotonou agreement should not be interpreted as mandating free movement of labour, but rather the free trade of goods and services. The Home Office was subsequently able to introduce new rules placing restrictions on Kolpak players, stating that only those who had held a valid work permit for four years had the right to be treated the same as EU citizens. After the UK withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020, the Kolpak ruling ceased to have any effect there at the end of 2020. Rugby In rugby league and rugby union, the Kolpak ruling has allowed teams to sign many players from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and South Africa, all of which are also ACP countries. Many rugby union clubs have also signed South African players under Kolpak, most notably the French team RC Toulonnais and English team Saracens F.C. In a related issue, New Zealand player Andrew Mehrtens, who was born in Durban, decided to pursue a South African passport when he signed with the English side Harlequins for the 2005–06 National Division One season, as it would enable the club to sign another non-EU and non-Kolpak player. See also Bosman ruling, a similar case covering freedom of movement for EU citizens List of Kolpak cricketers Notes and references External links Text of the ECJ judgment (PDF) Link to ECJ documents related to decision Kolpak ruling Counties fear Kolpak Cricket laws and regulations European Union labour law Court of Justice of the European Union case law Rugby union terminology Rugby league terminology Sports law 2003 in case law 2003 in Europe 2003 in sports German case law 2003 in Germany