The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically 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 encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
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 wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in November 2022
