The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," 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 playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
