The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene 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 documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations 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 fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
