The former player: 'I hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing 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 told reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened 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 revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause 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 perhaps the more confident others will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
