Sounding the whistle on racism terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a extended period you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

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 wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

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

"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

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

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.

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

"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved 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 documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

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 young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.

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

"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."