Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.

"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.

"During a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public 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 chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.

"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.

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended 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 shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.

His charitable organization aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps 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 keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."