Who goes? You decide

Worcester Wolves yesterday confirmed the signing of Lithuanian centre Arturas Masiulis. However, a piece over at This is Plymouth which also hit the wires yesterday cast doubt over the Wolves roster.

Gavin Love is reportedly disappointed that he can’t retain the services of Janusauskas next season due to what is being billed as a ‘late’ rule change by the BBL – that rosters can’t have more than five non-British players. A rule which appears to be effective immediately.

If the rule was as presented then Worcester would have six non-British players on their roster as we head in to the coming season.

However, we can confirm the rule today after confirmation from the league.

In the summer of 2011 the league agreed a rule change with clubs which would commence at the beginning of the 2012/13 season. That rule specifically is that clubs cannot field more than five non-British players per game. This is not a restriction on the roster but on the number of non-Brits that can take to the court for each forty minute contest.

So with Love’s clear intentions of running with a seven man roster and the recent injury to Anthony Rowe, the Raiders faithful may yet see Tomas in action at the Pavilions again.

A rule change like this will invoke discussion around one of the rulings in Bosman which was that leagues could not restrict the freedom of movement of EU workers by setting nationality quotas for domestic competitions. There is obviously however, room to manoeuvre, which the league has been able to utilise in order to promote the health and longevity of its domestic product. Coaches will have to use their discretion on gameday and the rule should ensure that young British talent continues to get some time off the bench and on the court in the BBL.