Blowing the alarm on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing 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 absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.

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

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

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

"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.

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

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced 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 acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

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

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

"I know it has had this effect 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 family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."