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

Important note: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.

"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

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

Burrell revealed to media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

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

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

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

"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from damaging behaviour.

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

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

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