The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" 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 elite level."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in 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 film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
