Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries underway.

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

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You 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.

"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."