The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Important note: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out 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 rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
