Blowing the whistle on racism ended my career - Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

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

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process 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 said it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

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

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

His charitable organization works to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, 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.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."