Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

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

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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

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

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

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

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

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.

"You be so proud 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 eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

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

"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."