DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons scotched talk of a dozen Warriors players being forced out by Brexit and believes “a maximum of three” could be affected.

This week's Rugby Paper reported Solomons “is desperately trying to find replacements for the 12 Kolpak players” at Sixways with the Daily Mail listing the same number “on Kolpak deals”.

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From December 31, a number of players from South Africa, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa could lose the right to work in the UK as the 2003 EU Association Agreement seems set to end with the post-Brexit transition period.

But Solomons explained the club had done its homework and that many would be unaffected should that turn out to be the case.

“What we have is 12 players that may be from Africa or the Pacific Islands but not everyone is in the same boat,” said Solomons.

“Some lads have British passports, some lads have (indefinite) leave to remain (ILR) and some people, for example Melani (Nanai), are married and have a British wife.

“We have to conclude the recruitment process but if I am honest, it is not something which is going to give us a concern, even if the decision is made that the EU ruling is no longer applicable to Great Britain because of Brexit.

“My analysis of where we are is that we won’t have a problem.”

Asked how many could be affected, Solomons replied: “We will get an overall picture once we have completed the recruitment process but once we do an analysis of who has leave to remain or British passports, I think there will be two, a maximum of three players that may be in that boat.

“It is not something that is concerning me greatly, it will be interesting to see what the ruling is going forward but that is for the UK government to make that decision and then Premiership Rugby to decide how they deal with the matter.”

Solomons confirmed he had been given no definitive answers on whether anyone would be stripped of the right to work but reiterated his confidence that there would be no mass exodus from Warriors.

“I have no doubt it is under consideration and that we will be informed at the appropriate time,” he added.

“I have been proactive about it, I don’t know what is going to come and am just speculating myself, but I have done a bit of a check and think we are in a reasonable position.

“I do understand at first look people might say ‘this is the number of African or Polynesian players' and therefore 12 appear to be under the Kolpak ruling.

“Some may have come in under that ruling but after a period you have the right to apply for leave to remain or citizenship and if you are married to someone who is British you have the right to a visa.”