Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my career - Luther Burrell

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

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

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

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

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

Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

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

"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures 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 the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

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

"You should 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 career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."