Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.

"I hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.

"I've had several distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization 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 continuous effort."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.

"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident others will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull 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 inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."