Blowing the whistle on racism terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.

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

"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time 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 explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters 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 inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

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

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

"We know it has had this effect 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 died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."