The former player: 'I hoped to carry on my rugby career'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened 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 journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated 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 rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since 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 culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging 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 ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
