The former player: 'I really hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate 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 environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact 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 passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability 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
