The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing 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 end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.
"I wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should 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 finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away 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 disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
