Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination ended my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

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

"I really hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries going on.

"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

"I've had several distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over 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 nonsense."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

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

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.

"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.

"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

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

His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

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

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own stories as well.

"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."