Burrell: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team 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 first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud 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 effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
