Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination cut short my career - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications 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 a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.

"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.

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

"During a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player 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 revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

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

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed 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 died earlier this year.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.

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

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

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."