The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene 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 finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent 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 take the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
