The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told 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 environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share 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 excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident others will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
