The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream 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 professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work 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 training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
