Blowing the alarm on racism terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for 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 have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.

"I really wanted to continue competing, of course 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 accept the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization 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 occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

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

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.

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

"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 says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen 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 implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.

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

"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.

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We 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 become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."