Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

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

"I hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

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

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

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

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

"Over a extended period 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 called him as a "slave" 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 "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

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

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

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

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

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