Direct from the Prem website
HOW MANY FOREIGN OR OVERSEAS PLAYERS CAN PLAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP?
The decision on who can work in the UK is a matter for government. Player registration and classification rules however sit with the RFU and within the bounds of English law, it is the RFU’s decision to determine who is classified as a foreign or non-foreign player.
As such due to the United Kingdom no longer being a member of the European Union, the RFU is working with stakeholders to determine the position going forwards with regards to the regulatory classification of Foreign Players.
It is important to note that the legal definition of foreign players is different to one of non-English players. In addition, players can fall under the Bosman or Kolpak rule. The Bosman ruling reinforced the Treaty of Rome in a sporting context, allowing the free movement of EU national workers around other EU countries. This effectively means any EU national has the same rights as any ‘local’ worker and therefore cannot be defined as a foreigner.
In the Premiership, the rule on foreign players has been amended to come into line with the regulations in European competitions. A maximum of two foreign players can now be in the matchday 23, at all periods during the season.
The level of English Qualified Players (EQP) in the Premiership has been fairly consistent since the inception of the league, and now stands at approximately 70%. This means on average there are approximately 200 English players playing every weekend in the Premiership.
In March 2022 it was confirmed – From Summer 2024 there will be a new England Qualified Players (EQPs) system and new foreign player rules. There is further work to do to agree the detail of this subject to a new Professional Game Agreement and introduction into regulation. Discussions around mandatory EQP in the AP15s and Championship will also be had in due course although nothing has been agreed as yet.
Pending this, an interim position will exist such that players who are or would have been classified as a Non-Foreign prior to 1 January 2021 will retain such Non-Foreign classification until the end of the 2023-24 season. This applies to all players playing in the Premiership, Championship, AP15s, Men’s Level 3 and 4 clubs, including those who are already playing in England or yet to arrive in England.
This extended transitional period allows time for agents, clubs and players to plan ahead.