Blowing the alarm on racism cut short my professional journey - Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described 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 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 went on," he told reporters.

"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice 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 several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

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

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

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

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

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"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 came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.

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

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

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

"I take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."