The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"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 incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud 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 effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
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 connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, 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 pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop 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 sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
