Burrell: 'I really hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing 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 have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," 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 finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
