Blowing the whistle on racism ended my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early end.

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

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.

"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations going on.

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

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.

"I've had several distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" 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 culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has placed significant attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

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

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.

"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.

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

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

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I grab the bull by the horns and keep bearing this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."