The former player: 'I really wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough 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 team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has given considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think 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 return to former club Northampton in late 2022
