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

Important note: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.

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

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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

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

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

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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 elite level."

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in 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 documentary about his experiences.

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.

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

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

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