Sounding the alarm on racism terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive language and conduct

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.

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

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

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

"I hoped to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

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

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

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

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

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

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

"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told 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 culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed significant attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.

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

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

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

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 young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

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