Blowing the alarm on racism ended my career - Luther Burrell

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

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed 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 have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

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

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

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

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

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

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

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

Burrell says he was finally motivated 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 your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

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

"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

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

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

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

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

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause 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 longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

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