Burrell: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Important note: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe 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 called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend 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.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, 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 soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing 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.
"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to change 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
