Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Important note: This article contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.

"That was challenging - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this whole process 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 gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

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

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

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

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

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out 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 rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization works to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue 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 longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

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