Blowing the alarm on racism cut short my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.

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

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

"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, 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 witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" 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 "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.

"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 ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

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

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

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

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

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