The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player 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 rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased 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 ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability 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
