Burrell: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, 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 occurred," he told reporters.
"I wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough 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 told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised 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 myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has in-person education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," 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 ended 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 died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
