The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" 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 invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," 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 view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," 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 fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing 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 thrive both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
