The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
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 accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in November 2022
