Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.

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 out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.

"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.

"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this impact 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 dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization aims 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 sport and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport 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."