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

Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

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

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

"I wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority 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."

"The organization has placed significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge 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 monitored via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"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 comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their personal stories as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."