Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my career - Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering 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 a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.

"I hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

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

"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

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

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

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

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

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

"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."