Blowing the alarm on racism cut short my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing 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've have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.

"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

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

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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 significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.

"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done 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 sister passed away recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His charitable organization works to connect with children in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue 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 speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."