Burrell: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" 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 retire because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn 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 eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished 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 father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
