Burrell: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing 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 change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
