Sounding the alarm on racism terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early end.

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

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries going on.

"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

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

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

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's 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.

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

Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect 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 son."

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

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."