Sounding the whistle on racism cut short my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

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

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering 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 invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

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

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

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue 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 standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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 attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person education on building inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.

All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

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

"I know it has had this impact 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 dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing 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 hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."