Sounding the whistle on racism cut short my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led 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 exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.

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

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

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

"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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 elite level."

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.

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

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved 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 personal stories as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."