The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to 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 environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations 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 advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
