Blowing the alarm on racism terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and conduct

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed 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 guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.

"I really wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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 banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

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

"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.

"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud 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 recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."