The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject 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 guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
