Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

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

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.

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

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

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

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."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 humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "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."

"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.

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

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

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

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

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."