The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect 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 media he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
