The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying 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 elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually 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 wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority 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."
"We has given significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared 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 responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own 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 opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
