The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test 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 other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is 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 descent.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "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 implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation works to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner 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 children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
