Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.

"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.

"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

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

"During a extended period you just learn 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 motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed 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 culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.

"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, 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 production of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

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

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal stories as well.

"I take the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

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