The former player: 'I really hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 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 definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just learn 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 eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.
"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
