Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early end.

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

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I really hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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

"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

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

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

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, 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.

"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

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