Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

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

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" 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 three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told media outlets.

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

"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

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

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

"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

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

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education 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 defend others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so pleased 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 effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.

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

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."