Blowing the whistle on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject 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 absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and other 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 humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says 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 arms and legs "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 action plan for the elite level."

"The organization has given considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."

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

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal stories as well.

"I take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."