Sounding the alarm on racism terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, 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.

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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 issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public 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 disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion 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 classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.

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

"We know it has had this effect 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 son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

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

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."