Burrell: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" 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 environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
