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

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing 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 absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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 problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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

"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from harmful 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 view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away recently.

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

His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

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