Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" 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 a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

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

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

"Over a extended period you just learn to think 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 speak out 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 rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."

"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend 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 about his experiences.

"I 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 died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

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

His charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

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