Blowing the alarm on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

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

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

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

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

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

Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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

"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene 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 documentary 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 well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father 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, maintains his work to make the game more open.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue carrying this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."