The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body 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 attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
