Burrell: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece includes details of racially offensive language and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised 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 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 wrists and ankles "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 introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed significant attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
