The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" 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 invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered 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 fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.
"The organization 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 Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in November 2022
