Burrell: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains details of discriminatory comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, 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 happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted 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 seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally motivated 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 your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My intentions 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 my own benefit," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
