The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Important note: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole 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 gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred 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 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted 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 experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," 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 finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag 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 underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in November 2022
