Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination ended my career - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory language and conduct

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.

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

Then 34 and without a team, 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 went on," he told media outlets.

"I wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced 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 fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream 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 introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

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

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.

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

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sister passed away recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."