The former player: 'I really wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, 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 happened," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient evidence 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 World Cup
Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
