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

Warning: This article contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his professional journey to an early end.

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

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

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

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream 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 implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

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

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.

"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."