Sounding the whistle on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This piece contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and conduct

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.

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

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

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, 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 chains would be placed."

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 strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

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

"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," 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 eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

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

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."