Sounding the alarm on racism cut short my career - Burrell

Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.

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

Then 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 went on," he explained to media outlets.

"I hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

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

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has given 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 revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

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

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this effect 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 son."

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

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

His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal intentions 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 said.

"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."