Sounding the whistle on racism cut short my career - Burrell

Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" 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 invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation 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 stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

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

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

Racism had become accepted 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 witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a period of time you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out 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 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 professional game."

"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before 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 stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.

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

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, 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 passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more open.

His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to tell their experience 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 sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

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