The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is fine 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 wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told 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 view, you have done so much. 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 film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause 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 talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in November 2022
