Burrell: 'I really wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed 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 have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has placed significant focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person education on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
