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

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 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 retire because of what occurred," he explained to media outlets.

"I really wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

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

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

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

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

"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called 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 "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

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

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building 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 protect others from harmful conduct.

"You be so pleased 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 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 dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.

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

His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

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