The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Warning: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
