The former player: 'I really hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told 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 introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters 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 inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should 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 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 sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in November 2022
