Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, 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 went on," he told reporters.

"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

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

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told 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 "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming environments, 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 damaging behaviour.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," 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 finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

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