The new 'interpretation' of the law could enable governing bodies of all sports to restrict the influx of players from nations that have a trade agreement with the EU. Those nations include South Africa and various countries in Eastern Europe, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean.

In cricket and rugby union, in particular, governing bodies and professional players' associations have been looking to increase the opportunities for British sportsmen, but feel that their efforts have been hampered by the landmark ruling which enabled Czech handball player Maros Kolpak to ply his trade in Germany without being classed as a foreigner.

Cricket and rugby clubs could therefore fill their teams with South Africans and Samoans – provided certain conditions were met – often to the detriment of the development of young home-grown players. Governing bodies could not put a cap on 'Kolpaks' for fear of being sued for restraint of trade.

Yesterday, though, the EU stated that the trade agreement should not be regarded as free movement of labour.

However, there are suggestions that the interpretation may not be as ground-breaking as it initially appeared, with the Professional Cricketers' Association pointing out that Kolpaks did not have free movement of labour anyway.

There is certainly plenty of dense legal discussion to be gone through before the picture becomes clear, and the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Rugby Football Union both put out statements saying they would study the matter closely before making pronouncements about the implications of the EU's clarification.

Changes would affect Leeds Carnegie, Doncaster Knights and Rotherham Titans, as well as Yorkshire CCC. The county's senior rugby league teams, though, would be largely immune, because Super League has self-regulatory measures designed to foster local talent, with increasing quotas for home-produced players.

Yorkshire CCC are less reliant than most on Kolpak players. They have just two in their ranks, Deon Kruis is expected to bow out at the end of the season. Chairman Colin Graves has stated the club are not looking to bring in further Kolpaks.

Chief executive Stewart Regan said yesterday: "We are waiting for the ECB to clarify the situation but we are certainly not fazed by the new legislation and it could help us, because a lot of clubs have more (Kolpak players) than us.

"We will continue to invest in our academy. Martyn Moxon has always said that if young players are good enough, he will give them an opportunity, and they have stood up and been counted this season."

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