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

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

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 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 absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.

"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

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

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

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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

"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

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

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

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sister died recently.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My intentions are pure, 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 cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."