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

Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

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

"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

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

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality 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 issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

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

All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I take the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."