The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You should 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 impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
