Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.

"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.

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

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Some discrimination and other 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 disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "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 introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.

"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."