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

Important note: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature end.

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

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

"I've have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

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

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

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

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

"This is 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 descent.

"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has placed considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

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

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

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.

His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."