The former player: 'I really wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," 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 finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You 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.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
