Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory language and conduct

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his professional journey to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for 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 told reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, 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 said.

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

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

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

"During a period of time you just begin to think 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 called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful behaviour.

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

"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 father Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

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

His charitable organization works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

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