Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for 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've have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.

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

"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

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

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" 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 "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion 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 classism," it added.

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

All Premiership 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 age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.

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

"We know it has had this effect 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 family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.

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

His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

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

"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about discussing their own stories as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."