Sounding the alarm on racism terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive language and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

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

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

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

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

"During a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has placed significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

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

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating inclusive environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.

"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film 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 well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

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

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."