The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've 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 collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
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 personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During 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 nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that fight 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 longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in November 2022
