The former player: 'I hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - 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 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather 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 squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," 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 fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You 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.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
