Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

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

"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

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

Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

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

Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The governing body 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."

"The organization has given significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.

"You be so proud 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 impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. 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 was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game 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 myself," he said.

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

"I take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."