Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this whole situation 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 said it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."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 issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend 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.

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue 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 excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."