The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I really hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" 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 elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education 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 said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. 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 documentary, 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 charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own stories as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
