The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient 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 team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive 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 futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
