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

Warning: This article includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an early end.

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

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

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

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters 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 takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are trained 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 Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done 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 sibling passed away recently.

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

His charitable organization works to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with free sports training, guidance 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 story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."