Sounding the whistle on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, 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 a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.

"I really hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries 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 bigger than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

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

"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful behaviour.

"You be so pleased of what you have done," 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 career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.

His charitable organization works to connect with children in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.

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

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."