Sounding the whistle on racism ended my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.

"I really hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

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

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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

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

"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"We has given significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.

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

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, 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 production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal intentions 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 fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport 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 grab the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

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