Burrell: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature 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 exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 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 absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I take the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
