The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed 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 went on," he told reporters.
"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some 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 humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given significant attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud 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 impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared 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.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
