Burrell: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I really wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
