Sounding the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" 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 invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

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

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised 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 experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared 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 recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

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

All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing 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 transformed things for me."