Burrell: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing 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 retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims 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 Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over 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 motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" 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 "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told 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 view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"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 comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own stories as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport 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
