The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted 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 myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time 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 spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
