The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
