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

Important note: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.

"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries going on.

"That was difficult - I had to simply 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 true "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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 February 2014.

"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been disguised 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 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 finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has given significant focus on diversity and diversity in the sport 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 added.

"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

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

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to 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 eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

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

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

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

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."