The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased 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 ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, 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 cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
