Blowing the alarm on racism terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.

"I really hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.

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

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

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

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.

"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.

"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority 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 professional game."

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

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, 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 damaging behaviour.

"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.

"We 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 son."

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

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

His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."