Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

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

"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become normalised 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 period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

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

"The organization has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

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

"I grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

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