The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence 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 excluded for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour 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 believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
