The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 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 retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I really wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"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 says he was eventually motivated to speak out 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 chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences 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 takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on creating welcoming environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished 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 passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary 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 advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
