Blowing the alarm on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing 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 media outlets.

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

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," 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 disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public 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 chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has given considerable attention on inclusion 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 continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.

"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect 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 father Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

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

His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

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

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

"I take the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."