The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect 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 ended your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
