The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing 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've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I really hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn 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 finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to 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 disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We 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 passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
