Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and recalling 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 three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.

"I really hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

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

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

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

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

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

"We has given significant attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared 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 more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

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