Burrell: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims 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 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has given significant attention 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 continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, 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 filming of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
