Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his career to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

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

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

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

"Over a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.

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

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

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

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

His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."