Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.

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

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.

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

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

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

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" 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 professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

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

"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect 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 father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.

His charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

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

"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

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