Blowing the whistle on racism cut short my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing 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 end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I really hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations underway.

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

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

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

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

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

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

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

"You should be so pleased 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 impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

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

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

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."