Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my career - Burrell

Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive language and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in 2014.

"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

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

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

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

Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.

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

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished 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 production of the film, and his sibling died recently.

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

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

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

"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."