The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Warning: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene 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 documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"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 sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe 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 late 2022
