The former player: 'I really hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and conduct
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" 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 end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply accept the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told 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 done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
