The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in November 2022
