Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination ended my career - Burrell

Important note: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for 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 occurred," he told media outlets.

"I really wanted to continue competing, naturally 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 accept the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a period of time you just learn 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 eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" 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 film about his experiences.

"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.

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

His charitable organization aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

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