Sounding the alarm on racism ended my career - Burrell

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

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

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

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

"I wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation 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 true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

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

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given significant focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.

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

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.

"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."